Muslims to move Bombay Court to Relax Beef Ban for Eidul Azha

MUMBAI: The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) is preparing to move the Bombay High Court to direct the state government to relax the beef ban for three days during Baqr Eid (Eidul Azha) as the festival involves animal sacrifice. Since goats are expensive and poor Muslims can't afford to sacrifice them, the community wants the government to relax the beef ban for at least three days (September 24-27) during the festival so that bulls and bullocks which are out of agricultural use can be slaughtered.

IUML's lawyer said the petition is likely to be moved on Wednesday. IUML city president Parvez Lakdawala said: "Sacrificing animals during Baqr Eid is our religious duty and we want the court to heed our pleas as our religious sentiments are involved." He added that IUML national president and Lok Sabha member E Ahmed has also written to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to look into the matter and relax the ban for three days. Lakdawala said the state government issues notifications for closure of slaughter houses and mutton shops for two days during the Jain festival of Paryushan and Mahavir Jayanti every year and it should also consider Muslims' demand and relax the ban on slaughter of bulls and bullocks for their festival.

Meanwhile, Majlis-e-Ittihadul Muslameen legislator, advocate Waris Pathan and its state unit president Syed Moin met the CM on Monday demanding temporary slaughter houses for three days during Baqr Eid. "The government should issue a notification allowing setting up of temporary slaughter houses during Baqr Eid," said Pathan.