Muslim Qureshi butchers in Maharashtra halt meat trade in protest against vigilante attacks
Mumbai: In a rare act of coordinated protest, Muslim Qureshi butchers across Maharashtra have indefinitely halted their trade in bovine meat, citing a decade of violence and harassment by self-proclaimed “gau rakshaks”. The boycott, which began in Nagpur and has since spread statewide, is expected to severely impact rural farmers and the meat economy.
According to a report by The Wire, journalist Sukanya Shanta highlights how the Qureshi community, already reeling under the 2015 amendment to the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act, has faced increasing violence, often with alleged police complicity. Despite only slaughtering buffaloes (which remain legal with certification), community members say they are frequently targeted for being Muslim.
The boycott has far-reaching consequences. Farmers who depend on butchers to sell aged buffaloes may now be unable to invest in new livestock. Activists warn of broader economic disruptions, with estimates suggesting the meat industry generates hundreds of crores monthly.
Meanwhile, the state government is planning stricter anti-beef smuggling laws and considering withdrawal of cases against vigilantes. Community leaders and activists have criticised the administration’s silence on vigilante violence, calling it a criminalisation of Muslim livelihoods.
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Delhi CM orders probe after couple allegedly denied entry at eatery over Indian attire
New Delhi, Aug 8 (PTI): Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has directed officials to initiate an investigation and take necessary action after a video showing a couple being denied entry to a restaurant over Indian attire began circulating on the internet.
"A video of a ban on Indian dress at a restaurant in Peetampura has come to light. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has taken a serious note of it. The officers have been directed to launch an investigation and take urgent action (in the matter)," Delhi Tourism and Culture Minister Kapil Mishra said in a X post on Friday.
"This is 'unacceptable' in Delhi," Mishra said, citing the video of the incident posted by a social media user on X.
The alleged incident took place at a restaurant on the Pitampura metro premises on August 3. In the video, a man in a T-shirt, accompanied by a woman in a 'kurta-salwar,' can be seen complaining about allegedly being denied entry for wearing Indian clothing.
The couple also alleged misbehaviour by the restaurant staff.
See what is happening in Delhi restaurant Tubata in Pitampura. A couple was denied entry and not allowed to enter just because they were wearing Indian attire! pic.twitter.com/xCw5bFw0Zb
— Rosy (@rose_k01) August 8, 2025
