UP meat sellers meet UP CM Yogi Adityanath, likely to end stir against crackdown on illegal slaughterhouses

A delegation of Uttar Pradesh meat sellers met Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to discuss ongoing stand-off over a crackdown on illegal slaughterhouses. 

After meeting the CM, slaughterhouse owners took a slightly softened stand, "Our meeting with UP CM was very successful. He assured us that licensed slaughterhouses will not be troubled," said Sirajuddin Qureshi, Meat Exporter. 

"I appeal to the protesters to return to work and start working with a proper licence, UP Govt will help you procure one," Qureshi added. 

"All delegates (meat traders) supported CM and said as citizens of India its our duty to see that nothing illegal is allowed," UP Health Minister Siddhartha Nath Singh said. 

Read | Crackdown only against illegal slaughter houses in Uttar Pradesh: Govt

Earlier on Tuesday, agitating meat sellers and exporters had held talks with Uttar Pradesh health minister on the second day of their strike but no rapprochement appeared in sight.

“We have noted all the issues raised by them with an open mind. The Uttar Pradesh government will not allow anything illegal to happen,” Singh said after the meeting as he directed officials not act in over-zealousness or overstep their jurisdiction.

On Wednesday the tension over slaughterhouse ban escalated so much that a  team of Uttar Pradesh police, which was on a raid against illegal slaughterhouses, was attacked by mob. Five of the members of the team were injured in the incident.

UP meat sellers have been on strike since March 27.