Contrary to demands made by his party colleagues and right-wing leaders, a BJP legislator has demanded the opening of Goa meat complex, claiming that there is a huge shortage of beef in the state.
”I want the minister to tell me when Goa meat complex will start and whether there will be an interference from so-called ‘gau rakshaks’. I respect them but there are people in Goa in large numbers who eat beef. You cannot stop that, ” BJP MLA Michael Lobo said.
Lobo made these remarks while speaking in the Goa Assembly on Wednesday.
Lobo said that his remarks will not be well received by some people, but that will not stop him from saying the truth.
”Some may not like the way I am talking. If we do not want beef to come from Karnataka and Maharashtra, then certified cattle in Goa should be slaughtered at govt meat complex,” the BJP legislator said, adding that, ”It has to start.’
While respecting the sentiments of the “Gau Rakshaks”, Mr. Lobo said, “There are people in Goa in large numbers, the Christian and Muslim community and others who eat beef. There are tourists who come here to eat beef. You cannot stop that. But now there is a shortage of beef for our feasts,” Mr. Lobo said.
Lobo also said that the beef ban was badly affecting tourism in the state. ”Tourists come here to eat beef. There is a huge shortage of beef in Goa,” Lobo said.
Goa on an average consumes around 20-25 tons of beef every day, and in the absence of operations by State’s only mechanised abttoir in Usgao in South Goa, demand is met by importing from neighbouring states by members of local meat traders’ association.
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