Margao Congress Block charged the BJP government of hypocrisy and of being an official instigator of communal disharmony. This scathing attack against the government was made while referring to the beef export undertaken through the government on one hand, while letting loose it’s “outfits” to harass beef traders in the guise of ‘gau-rakshaks’ on the other hand.
Addressing the media along with Adv. Snehal Onskar, Arch. Carlos Gracias, Lincoln Gomes, Damodar Onskar, Anwar Naroo, Robert Vaz, Aneil Alvares and Camilo Camara, Congress leader Mr Savio Coutinho charged that the government sponsored ruckus during the festive Christmas season deprived Goans of the beef supply.
Mr. Coutinho also expressed doubts over the genuineness of the company Sunface Agrofoods Private limited, and said that a Google search revealed that this company is “permanently closed”, and wondered whether this firm is a ‘mask’ for some bigger beneficiary of the ruling dispensation.
Further, referring very specifically to the incidents that were witnessed in Margao in the recent past, where a private premises at sirvodem Margao was raided by certain elements, and another incident at SGPDA market where physical assault took place over transportation of beef.
Congress leader Mr Savio Coutinho stated that at the so called ‘raid’ at Sirvodem, the subject of beef remained aside, but a teakwood log at the premises was used to harass the trader.
Whereas, while the BJP government, and the mute Gau-rakshaks, who stop vehicles of meat traders and claim that cow’s meat is being transported, tend to justify that buffalo meat is exported and not cow’s meat. Who promotes and encourages the elements involved in such illegal raids, and on what basis so they declare that the meat found in the vehicles is cow’s meat and not buffalo meat? questioned Mr Coutinho, while charging that even meat transported from the Goa Meat Complex is not spared by illegal raids.
Mr. Coutinho demanded that the local consumers should be provided supply first and then the government should permit exports; and stated that the story of an income of Rs. 500/- per animal slaughtered is not very convincing. “It is beyond our capacity to believe that this government is into such petty business of Rs. 500/-. This double engine government that goes Tom-Toming about their concern and respect for cow and creating ruckus all over has definitely struck a high kickbacks deal through this export initiative”, Mr Coutinho charged.
Adv. Snehal Onskar while criticising the government for it’s hypocrisy, charged that the export business exposes the government sponsored hate campaign by indulging the Cow that all Hindus respect. People should understand how this government pits the public against each other, and on the other hand derives monetary benefits.