Azam Khan wants nationwide ban on animal slaughter; asks Muslims to stop eating meat

Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan supports Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's action against illegal animal slaughter across Uttar Pradesh.

Lucknow, March 28: Controversial Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan on Monday said that animal slaughter -- both legal and illegal -- should be banned across the country. Khan was commenting on the debate over ban on illegal slaughterhouses across Uttar Pradesh after the newly-formed government of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state is taking strict action against slaughterhouses that are found flouting government rules and regulations.

The former Uttar Pradesh minister demanded uniformity in laws and said that there should be a nationwide ban on slaughter of animals and not just in one state. "Cow slaughter should be banned across the country. Why is it so that it is legal in states such as Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura, but not in other states? I am not only in support of banning slaughter but for very long I have been saying this that we should stop slaughter. No one should be slaughtered. What is legal and illegal slaughter? I want all slaughterhouses to be banned. No animals should be cut," Khan told ANI.

"This means it is ok if the animals are butchered in legal slaughterhouses and not ok when they meet the same fate in an illegal place. All slaughterhouses should be shut. No animal should be slaughtered," he added.

Khan also asked the Muslim community to stop eating meat. "I appeal to the Muslim fraternity that they think upon it... It is not mandated in Islam that Muslims should eat meat. I appeal to the people that they should stop eating meat," he said.

Speaking on UP government's policy of forming anti-Romeo squads, Khan said Muslim folks found in parks should be dealt with strictly. "I want strict actions to be taken even against Muslim brothers and sisters who are found in parks," Khan told ANI.

Thus the senior Samajwadi Party leader supported two of the most prominent policies adopted by state chief minister Adityanath Yogi after the saffron party formed government in the state recently.

OneIndia News