Meat-sellers’ meet UP CM, strike enters day 4

TIL Desk/National/Lucknow/ Representatives of the agitating meat-sellers and exporters today met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath here, on the fourth day of their indefinite strike against the crackdown on illegal abattoirs, but there was no immediate end to the deadlock. “The strike called by the mutton-sellers will continue at least till the end of Navaratra (April 5). It may be extended further if our demands are not met,” Mubeen Qureshi, an office bearer of the Lucknow Bakra Gosht Vyapar Mandal, told.

State Health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh, who was present during the talks, said Adityanath assured the delegation that stern action would be taken if any officer acted against a legal and licensed slaughterhouse. He said a firm assurance was given by the chief minister to the delegation that no adverse action will be taken by “overenthusiastic” officials while raiding the illegal abattoirs.

“A way to move forward has been found and the intention of the government and the delegation is the same that no illegal action is carried out in Uttar Pradesh,” Singh said, claiming that both the sides were “happy” over the outcome of the meeting. However, the mutton traders’ association was not very forthcoming on whether the strike would be called off in view of the chief minister’s assurance.