Crackdown on illegal abattoirs will continue, says UP govt

(Photo: PTI/ Representational Image)

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday denied any "overzealous" crackdown by authorities on abattoirs in the state and stated there would be no compromise on illegal slaughterhouses. Health minister Siddharth Nath Singh, who briefed the media after a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, said that action will be taken against all illegal abattoirs in the state. "It has been made clear in the past and is being reiterated again that action against slaughter houses which do not adhere to the guidelines prescribed by the National Green Tribunal in letter and spirit," he said. The government also made it clear that no harassment will be done of people involved in the meat trade who are following guidelines and have valid licenses. There has been a massive crackdown against slaughterhouses across the state ever since the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP government came to power last month. The BJP had promised to shut down all illegal slaughter houses in its state assembly elections manifesto. The action created a furore among meat eaters in Uttar Pradesh with the meat traders downing their shutters.