AMN /
An MLA from the ruling BJP in Maharashtra legislative assembly criticised the government over ban on beef in the state, saying that it was not in the interest of farmers.
“Why should you snatch away the poor’s meal?” asked Bhimrao Dhonde, MLA from Beed’s Ashti, during a discussion on the state’s agrarian crisis Thursday.
“In times of drought, feeding productive animals itself is a big challenge for farmers. How can a farmer sustain the additional burden of looking after spent cattle?” asked Dhonde.
The controversial beef ban, which was imposed by the Maharashtra government last March, has been opposed before, but this is perhaps the first time that a ruling party MLA has openly spoken against it.
” Farmers use the bull for farming. When the bull attains 10 years of age, A farmer sells that bull (to the slaughter house) and whatever money he earns from the sale, he buys a young bull. Farmers do that because an old bull is of no use in farming. Moreover, I feel it is not right to decide what people must eat. I don’t think it is right. Muslims eat beef, some Hindus and poor people (also eat beef), so why should we stop them from eating (what they want)?” he asked.
Dhonde’s criticism comes two days after the Centre’s Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian quipped in Mumbai that he would not comment on the state’s beef ban as it would cost him his job.
On Tuesday, asked to comment on the economic impact of the ban during an interaction with students at Mumbai University, Subramanian said: “You know that if I answer this question, I will lose my job. But thank you nevertheless for asking this question.”