Not just buffalo meat, Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow is fast heading towards a non-vegetarian crisis as entire chicken, goat meat and egg markets have begun shutting down.
While more than 80% markets of non-vegetarian items already downed shutters , various traders’ associations have declared strike.Under the circumstances, vegetable prices, which were on the decline for last one week, are likely to register a steep hike.
All the nearby shops too are closed and the cages to keep the birds were all empty.Cow slaughter is banned in Uttar Pradesh that has seen frantic activity since Yogi Adityanath took charge as chief minister with a vow to crack down on cattle smuggling.
The BJP fought on a poll plank of shutting down illegal abattoirs, a move that was seen as hurting Muslim-run businesses. In the past week, several mutton and fish shops have been set on fire as the supply of buffalo meat – which is legal – has dried up.
Not many shopkeepers are ready to speak their mind or speak at all over the issue. A nearby meat seller, at 2.30 pm, was all set to sell off the last five kilos of the goat meat and then pack up. He was not ready to speak anything or tell his name.
The strike is going to hit the hotels’ and restaurants’ non-vegetarian menu as the supply chain has been broken.
Buffalo meat is not an isolated commodity. It is the cheapest meat available. End of its sale will impact demand-supply ratio of chicken, meat, eggs, and vegetables and will lead to steep prices escalation of them. Which means, the non-veg food will become out of reach for many regular non-veg consumers,” said a seller of meat.
