Thursday, November 22, 2012

Sharma hits out at Modi over remark on beef exports

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/sharma-hits-out-at-modi-over-remark-on-beef-exports/990582/0

IE

20AUG2012

AHMEDABAD
Sharma hits out at Modi over remark on beef exports
Press Trust of India : New Delhi, Mon Aug 20 2012, 06:07 hrs
Industry minister says CM’s recent statement inflammatory, inaccurate
and misleading
Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma has hit out at Chief
Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of giving a “political slant” by
making “inflammatory” statement on beef exports.
“My attention has been drawn to your public statement regarding the
meat export policy alleging that the central government is promoting
slaughter of cows and export of beef, which is inaccurate,
inflammatory and misleading,” Sharma said in a letter to Modi.
“It is unfortunate that in spite of the factual position, you have
chosen to give a political slant to government’s stand on meat export
policy. Public discourse on policy matters must never be allowed to be
trapped in partisan political agenda,” Sharma added.
In his Janmashtami message through his blog early this month, Modi had
appealed to the people to reject “pink revolution”. He said the UPA
government was “promoting slaughtering of cows”.
Sharma said, “You are well aware that slaughter of cows is prohibited
in India in harmony with principles enshrined in our Constitution.” He
said meat is largely a by-product of livestock, utilising spent
animals at the end of their productive life. “Cattle and buffaloes,
which account for over 60 per cent of meat production, are primarily
reared for milk and towards the end of their productive life, are
utilised for meat production. A ban on meat production or export would
lead to an abnormal rise of unproductive animals, which is
inconsistent with sound animal husbandry practices,” Sharma said.
Sharma contended that during the NDA regime in 2003-04, nearly 3.5
lakh tonnes of buffalo meat was exported.
The minister said if any incident has happened in Gujarat, its
responsibility lies with the state government. “I hope that being the
Chief Minister of a large state, you will exercise prudence and
restraint while commenting on sensitive issues of public policy,”
Sharma wrote.