[Shamim Qureshi, District President of Qureshi Muslims in Muzaffarnagr while talking to media on Saturday October 24, 2015 (Photo Courtesy Dainik Bhaskar)]
Muzaffarnagar (Uttar Pradesh): In a laudable move to maintain harmony in the society amid rising violence in the name of cow slaughter, Muslims belonging to Qureshi community in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, have decided to impose social boycott of those found involved in 'cow slaughter' or trading 'cow meat.'
According to a report published by Dainik Bhaskar, the Qureshi Muslims of Muzaffarnagar in a meeting of the community members Saturday also decided to form a 'task force' to check cow slaughte, and if anyone is involved in trading of cow meat.
"We have decided to impose social boycott of the persons from our community if they are found involved in cow slaughter or trading cow meat. No one from the community will marry in such families, or have any business or other kind of relation with such people", Shamim Qureshi, district president of the community said while talking to the media.
Muslims from the Qureshi community are normally the people who are associated with cattle slaughter and trading of different types of meat. Though some of them are beef traders, a majority is involved in the slaughter and sales of mutton.
"We will also seek the support from the district administration so that people involved in cow slaughter are dealt with harshest possible punishment, and communal harmony is maintained in the society", Shamim Qureshi said.
He also said that the Qureshi Muslims of Muzaffarnagar will also oppose tooth and nail if someone from outside the community is found involved in such trade.
Shamim also said that they will try their best so that their campaign is extended to other parts of the state.
"We don't want violence. We want Hindus and Muslims of this country to live in peace", he said.
Cow is considered sacred by Hindus and its slaughter is banned by some states in India since 1976. However, the BJP when it came to power in states like Maharashtra and Haryana, the law was amended to include slaughter of bulls bullocks and calf.
Following the amendment, a 50-year-old Muslim man Muhammad Akhlaque was dragged out of his house and beaten to death in Dadri, Greater Noida - barely 45 kms from New Delhi on mere rumours that he had consumed beef. Forensic reports later confirmed that the meat stored in Akhlaque's refrigerator was of mutton, not beef of cow meat.
Days after this incident a 20-year-old Noman Akhtar was beaten to death near Shimla, Himachal Pradesh allegedly by Bajrang Dal activists who claimed the victim with his friends was involved in smuggling of cows.
After these incidents, the cow has become a focal point in Uttar Pradesh politics, prompting statements of sorts from politicians.
Meanwhile, Azam Khan, senior Samajwadi Party leader and a minister in Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday called for a complete ban on cow slaughter, saying he was personally against it as it hurt the religious sentiments of a community.
Talking to reporters in Rampur, his assembly constituency, Khan said it was sad that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) were raking up the issue for political mileage.
The Samajwadi Party leader also claimed cow slaughter was a big-time crime during the reign of Muslim rulers.
Khan added during the rule of the last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar, stringent penal provisions were in place for people involved in cow slaughter.
"I would like to exhort all those who have cows to take care of them and when they die, to cremate them with full honour," Khan stated.