MUMBAI: Low production and rise in transportation costs have led to high prices of goats before Eid-ul-Azha or Bakri Eid, the Muslim festival of animal sacrifice, which falls on November 7.
Community leaders feel the rise in price of goats may dampen the spirit of the festival as many families will either cut down on the number of goats they buy for Bakri Eid or forgo the sacrifice completely this year.
Goat traders at the Deonar slaughterhouse, the biggest goat market for Bakri Eid in Mumbai, complained of "poor" business so far this year. "A goats weighing 20 kg costs between Rs 12,000-15,000. Due to heavy rain in Rajasthan, MP and UP, which supply a substantial number of goats to Mumbai, production was severely affected," said Ashfaque Babalal, vice-president of Maharashtra Sheep and Goat Brokers' Association. Babalal added that till date, about 1 lakh goats had reached Deonar, but sale was slow due to high prices. It may pick up as the three-day festival nears.
Organizations representing the Qurieshi community (meat sellers) alleged harassment not just by animal rights activists and but some members of Hindutva organizations like the Bajrang Dal. "Many animals are confiscated even before they reach Mumbai and these are seldom returned to traders," alleged Khalid Qureishi, Mumbai president of All India Jamiatul Qureish. "Every year we protest, but the problem persists," he added.
On Friday, a delegation of Muslim clerics and activists met CM Prithviraj Chavan and complained that trucks carrying goats were being stopped by activists. "We requested the CM to ask authorities to adopt leniency while enforcing different sections of the cruelty to animals Act. He promised to do the needful," said M A Khalid, who was part of the delegation.
"While Muslims must respect the sentiments of Hindus when sacrificing animals, it will be a denial of our constitutional rights if we are stopped from practising our religious rituals," said Sami Bubere, a member of the delegation
Community leaders feel the rise in price of goats may dampen the spirit of the festival as many families will either cut down on the number of goats they buy for Bakri Eid or forgo the sacrifice completely this year.
Goat traders at the Deonar slaughterhouse, the biggest goat market for Bakri Eid in Mumbai, complained of "poor" business so far this year. "A goats weighing 20 kg costs between Rs 12,000-15,000. Due to heavy rain in Rajasthan, MP and UP, which supply a substantial number of goats to Mumbai, production was severely affected," said Ashfaque Babalal, vice-president of Maharashtra Sheep and Goat Brokers' Association. Babalal added that till date, about 1 lakh goats had reached Deonar, but sale was slow due to high prices. It may pick up as the three-day festival nears.
Organizations representing the Qurieshi community (meat sellers) alleged harassment not just by animal rights activists and but some members of Hindutva organizations like the Bajrang Dal. "Many animals are confiscated even before they reach Mumbai and these are seldom returned to traders," alleged Khalid Qureishi, Mumbai president of All India Jamiatul Qureish. "Every year we protest, but the problem persists," he added.
On Friday, a delegation of Muslim clerics and activists met CM Prithviraj Chavan and complained that trucks carrying goats were being stopped by activists. "We requested the CM to ask authorities to adopt leniency while enforcing different sections of the cruelty to animals Act. He promised to do the needful," said M A Khalid, who was part of the delegation.
"While Muslims must respect the sentiments of Hindus when sacrificing animals, it will be a denial of our constitutional rights if we are stopped from practising our religious rituals," said Sami Bubere, a member of the delegation
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