Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) chief and MLA, Humayun Kabir, cautioned the BJP government in West Bengal against any move to ban ‘qurbani’ during the upcoming ‘Bakrid’ festival. This warning came in response to the Bengal government’s recent notice on ‘Animal Slaughter Guidelines,’ which requires a fit-for-slaughter certificate for slaughtering certain animals. The notice also prohibits public slaughter of these animals and emphasizes the need for officials to enforce the order without obstruction.
Humayun Kabir highlighted that a significant percentage of Muslims consume beef and emphasized that any attempt to ban such practices should start with sealing slaughterhouses licensed for cow slaughter. While acknowledging the importance of respecting the law, Kabir reiterated that ‘qurbani’ would proceed as per Quranic guidelines. He specifically addressed Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, cautioning against interfering with ‘qurbani’ as it could lead to repercussions for the BJP government.
Moreover, Kabir criticized the BJP government for its involvement in beef exports and imports, alleging that significant revenue is generated through this trade. Separately, the Calcutta High Court entertained a plea challenging the West Bengal government’s notification on cattle slaughter regulations. Humayun Kabir also urged the government to arrange a space for offering ‘namaz’ on Bakrid, warning that if no ground was provided, prayers would be conducted on the streets as has been done traditionally.
