Open slaughter houses during Eid-Al-Adha, Muslim cleric appeals

In March, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had directed police officials to prepare an action plan for closure of slaughter houses across the state keeping with the BJP's manifesto.

A prominent Muslim cleric on the occasion of Eid-Al-Adha appealed to the government to permit sacrificing animals in slaughter houses.

The cleric, Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali, said '' Since govt has shut down most of the slaughter houses,people do not know where to sacrifice animals.''

He appealed to the government to permit sacrificing animals in slaughter houses during Eid-Al-Adha so people don't do it in houses.

In March, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had directed police officials to prepare an action plan for closure of slaughter houses across the state keeping with the BJP's manifesto.

The BJP manifesto had said that all the illegal slaughter houses would be closed and there would be a blanket ban on all the mechanised slaughter houses.

He also ordered a blanket ban on smuggling of cows and said zero tolerance would be exercised in this regard.

What is Eid-ul-Adha?

Eid-ul-Adha is a "Sacrifice Feast", is the second of two Muslim holidays celebrated worldwide each year, and considered the holier of the two. It honors the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son, as an act of submission to God's command. Before he sacrificed his son God intervened by sending his angel Jibra'il (Gabriel), who then put a sheep in his son's place.

In commemoration of this, an animal is sacrificed and divided into three parts: the family retains one third of the share; another third is given to relatives, friends and neighbors; and the remaining third is given to the poor and needy.

(With agency inputs)