Ahead of Bakri Eid, Maharashtra livestock panel urges week-long halt on animal markets
Mumbai: With Eid-ul-Adha (Bakri Eid) approaching on June 7, the Maharashtra Goseva Ayog, a commission for the welfare of indigenous cows, has issued a directive calling for a halt on all livestock markets regulated by Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMCs) across the state from June 3 to June 8.
The directive has sparked sharp criticism from several quarters, particularly from members of the Muslim community, who have questioned the intent behind the suspension of sales of all animals, including goats, lambs, and sheep, ahead of the festival, with many also raising concerns about the timing and purpose of such a sweeping restriction, as reported by The Indian Express on Sunday.
According to a circular dated May 27 sent to all APMCs, the Goseva Ayog cited concerns over potential illegal bovine slaughter ahead of the festival and urged market committees to suspend livestock markets during this period. The circular referenced the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act, which enforces a complete ban on the slaughter of bovine animals (cow progeny) in the state, and urged authorities to "stay vigilant in this matter."
Under current regulations in Maharashtra, the slaughter of cows, bulls, and bullocks is strictly prohibited, irrespective of their age or physical condition. Additionally, the possession of beef is classified as a criminal offence in the state.
Muslim community members argue that the ban will disrupt legitimate trade in non-prohibited animals such as goats, sheep, and buffaloes — animals traditionally sacrificed during Bakri Eid — and adversely impact the livelihoods of farmers, labourers, drivers, and traders who depend on these markets.
“The state needs to take steps to ensure that cow slaughter does not take place. But what is the intent behind shutting down the entire market? If the markets are not held, the trade of non-banned animals such as goats, buffaloes, and sheep will also come to a halt. As a result, daily wage income for farmers, porters, brokers, drivers, the Qureshi-Khatik community, and labourers will stop,” TIE quoted Farooq Ahmad, State Vice President, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, leading a protest against the circular in Nanded, as saying.
Ahmad further raised concerns about the Goseva Ayog’s authority, stating that the commission is only empowered to make recommendations, and that issuing direct instructions to APMCs to halt market operations amounts to an overreach of its authority.
Defending the directive, Shekhar Mundada, Chairman of the Goseva Ayog, clarified that the circular should be seen only as an advisory, not a binding order. “During the days preceding Eid, a lot of animal transactions—including for slaughter—are carried out with the intent of sacrifice. We only want to stop this from occurring. As far as the stoppage of sale of other animals is concerned, that will happen only for one week,” TIE quoted Mundada as saying.
Maharashtra currently has 305 principal and 603 secondary APMCs, regulated by the Maharashtra State Agricultural Marketing Board under the APMC Act. There are 292 livestock markets functioning across the state, and almost all are regulated by the APMCs.
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UDF leaders see local body poll trends as pointer to 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.
According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.
The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.
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Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.
"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.
He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.
Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.
According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.
"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.
He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.
AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.
Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.
"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.
"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.
He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.
Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.
"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.
On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.
"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.
Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.
He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.
Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.
"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.
CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.
"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.
Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.
"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.
"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.
