Hundreds of abattoir workers protest in Mumbai
Mohammed Wajihuddin,TNN | Mar 11, 2015, 12.58 AM IST
MUMBAI: Tuesday saw a couple of protests in the city against the BJP-Sena government's alleged anti-minority policies. Opposition legislators like Naseem Khan, Amin Patel, Waris Pathan and Jitendra Awhad burnt a copy of the March 2 resolution quashing 5% reservation to Muslims in jobs and education, and daily wagers at Deonar abattoir and workers of beef shops demanded lifting of the ban on beef trade.
Hundreds gathered at Azad Maidan and raised slogans against the BJP-Shiv Sena government over enforcement of the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act, 1995. Since the Act extends the ban on slaughter of cows to bulls and bullock, work at the state-run Deonar abattoir has drastically reduced, rendering thousands jobless. "We have inherited this job from our forefathers and we don't know any other skill. The government has struck at our livelihood," said Deepak Bhalerao, leader of Sarva Shramik Sangh, an organization of workers at the Deonar abattoir.
"Our families are starving. Where will we get food from? Did the Fadnavis government think about its impact before it brought the new law?" said Shakil Qureishi, another leader. Arif Qureishi, a beef merchant at Crawford market, said around 80 workers at beef shops at Crawford Market have been jobless since March 3.
Questioning if this is how Narendra Modi's slogan 'sabka saath, sabka vikas' was being implemented, activists threatened hunger strike. "Instead of starving at home, we will die during hunger strike if the law is not amended. Cow slaughter has been banned and nobody opposes it but by adding bulls and bullock to the list, the government has hit the poor," said activist Firoz Mithiborewala.
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