Dr. Manmohan Singh
Hon'ble Prime Minister of India,
Prime Minister's Office,
152, South Block,
New Delhi-110 011.

Respected Dr. Manmohan ji,

Re: Export of livestock to Pakistan

We understand from newspaper reports that the Government of India has permitted export of livestock from India to Pakistan. It is reported that the Musharraff administration has approved setting up of four quarantine centres immediately and another 30 to 40 over the next few months to accommodate upto ten thousand animals per quarantine centre, where the animals exported from India will be kept for 15 days before being certified as disease free and fit for slaughter for meat. The preliminary estimates of exports put the figure as 10 lakh animals per annum. Pakistan will permit duty free import of these live animals into its country.

It is also reported that this step is being taken as a measure to improve relations with Pakistan and also to increase the trade with Pakistan.

Meat is one of the 11 items which are reviewed by the Pakistan Price Control Committee and it is reported that these items are priced at 15 to 50% higher in Islamabad than in New Delhi. It is to ease the price situation in Pakistan that live animals from India will be exported.

To say the least, this is a very ill-conceived proposal. Livelihoods of a very vast number of people in rural India is dependent on rearing of animals i.e. cattle, sheep and goat. The 17th livestock census report indicates about 10% decline in population of cattle and a very very negligible rise in population of sheep and goat. Even otherwise there is large scale clandestine export of livestock across the border both to Pakistan and to Bangladesh as also to the Middle East from various ports of Gujarat. Opening up or legalizing export of livestock will be a severe blow to the Animal Husbandry in our country. It will also increase price of meat within the country. Lured by higher prices in the neighbouring country, the traders in livestock will be tempted to export more and more animals and over a period of time India will face the same situation on price front of meat that Pakistan is facing today.

We wonder whether our country has run out of ideas to improve relations with Pakistan and is considering sacrifice of dumb and innocent animals to achieve this object ! Our Constitution has imposed a Fundamental Duty to show compassion towards all living beings and these duties are cast equally on the government as on the citizens. Acting against this Fundamental Duty, the Government has decided to export animals knowing fully well that they will be slaughtered.

Our country has adopted meat export as a Policy measure identifying it as a thrust area. This is already playing havoc with our livestock situation and a few entrepreneurs are making personal huge profits at the cost of our national wealth i.e. our animals. The export earnings of some three thousand crores of rupees is peanuts when compared to the foreign exchange reserve of more than 130 billion US$. Throughout the country the public sentiment is against the export of meat which is being continued to cater to the vested interests of a few private sector entrepreneurs and their patrons in bureaucracy and politicians. It is painful to note that instead of honoring the public sentiments of banning meat export from the country the Government is taking steps now to export livestock also.

We are not elaborating on how livestock is the backbone of our rural economy as you are well aware of it.

We request you to kindly reconsider the whole issue and reverse the decision to permit export of livestock to Pakistan/Bangladesh and also to consider banning of meat export from the country.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully, For VINIYOG PARIVAR TRUST

(A.M. PAREKH) Trustee

P.s. See also: No Veal Campaign (Flash movie)

Editor's note: The Lord is the protector of cows and the brahminical culture. A society devoid of cow protection and brahminical culture is not under the direct protection of the Lord, just as the prisoners in the jails are not under the protection of the king but under the protection of a severe agent of the king. Without cow protection and cultivation of the brahminical qualities in human society, at least for a section of the members of society, no human civilization can prosper at any length.
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.14.34 Purport)