Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is famous for taking tough and strong stand without even paying any heed to political correctness. His proclivity to take strong decision is on display again. Ahead of Bakra Eid, CM Yogi asked Muzzafarnagar police to make sure that no animal sacrifices are made in open spaces and the blood of the slaughtered animals and offal is not dumped in open drains, so that religious sentiments of other communities are not hurt.
Muzzafarnagar is a communally sensitive area and infamous for riots that happened in 2013 under Samajwadi government of the state. The riots claimed lives of 62 people. As a result of the riots, thousands of people became refugees. The riots became much more intense and severe because of the political intervention by the ministers of the then ruling dispensation. Since then the place is a hotbed of communal incidents. Communal tension often rises in Muzaffarnagar area.
According to Times of India report, CM Yogi also asked the officials to maintain law and order strictly and make proper arrangements of basic services like power and water supply in the district. He also asked the officials to ensure that protected animals are not sacrificed.
Rajeev Sharma, DM of Muzzafarnagar said, “We will make sure the CM’s instructions are complied with. We have held a meeting with district officials. On Monday, there will be another meeting between officials and prominent members of both communities about the festival.”
CM Yogi also instructed officials to step up during this period in those districts where Kanwar Yatra is still active.
Speaking to TOI, Superintendent of police Omveer Singh said, “The CM focused on law and order and gave instructions that Bakra-Eid was to be celebrated in the traditional way but that sacrifice of animals should not be done either in public or in areas which have mixed populations.”
Darul Uloom, Deoband, has also asked Muslims to not slaughter any prohibited animals during Bakra- eid. Darul Uloom has released a booklet in which it has urged, “The Muslims, while celebrating Eid-ul-Azha, must take into consideration the feelings of their fellow countrymen… They must not do anything that in any way hurts sentiments.” Darul Uloom earlier released a fatwa against slaughtering cow.
There are few people within Muslim community who are campaigning to do away with the practice of sacrificing animals on the occasion of Bakra -eid. Lakhs and lakhs of goats are mercilessly slaughtered in the name of ‘Qurbaani”. Earlier also such efforts have been made but the Islamic fanatics launched virulent attack against such people. In 2014, Benazir Suraiyya, a PETA activist was campaigning in Bhopal for a bloodless Bakra Eid. Within no time, she faced mob fury (which included women, calling for her head), and was saved only by the intervention of police.
Apart from this, the liberal brigade in our country that otherwise bats for a colorless Holi, cracker-less Diwali, eco-friendly Ganesh Chaturthi, ban on Jallikattu and so on has never endorsed a bloodless Bakra Eid. It shows their double-standard and their concern for environment and animals.
