“Don’t perform cow sacrifices; never eat beef again”: Kolkata imam appeals to Muslims ahead of Bakra Eid 2026 | Today’s news
The Imam of Kolkata’s iconic Nakhoda Mosque has publicly called for cow sacrifices. Maulana Mohammad Shafiq Qasmi spoke to PTI on Sunday. Here are the key points from his statement.
Qasmi appealed directly to Muslims to avoid sacrificing cows this Eid. He suggested sacrificing goats as an alternative to cows. He said Muslims should avoid harming others in a diverse society.
“Please don’t perform cow sacrifices. Never eat beef again,” he said.
The BJP government in West Bengal recently issued new guidelines for animal slaughter. Animals must now obtain a “certificate of fitness” before slaughter.
Only animals over 14 years of age or permanently incapacitated animals qualify. According to Qasmi, the announcement made it very difficult to slaughter animals.
The right localized compliance infrastructure does not currently exist. The West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act has been in force since 1950.
Maulana Qasmi also said, “If Muslims stop consuming beef, it will hurt our Hindu brothers the most, not Muslims. It is the Hindu families in the dairy business who sell cows on Bakra Eid. They invest their whole life in one cow. When they cannot sell it, it is a huge loss for them.”
His challenge to the BJP government
Qasmi demanded that the Bengal government first set up slaughterhouses in each area. Vets must be available in every market.
“If the government cannot provide the required infrastructure, it should declare the cow as the national animal and at the same time impose a complete ban on its slaughter and export of beef,” Maulana Mohammad Shafiq Qasmi told PTI.
In a separate interview, he appealed that all forms of animal sacrifice should be banned, even those performed in Hindu temples.
“But there cannot be contradictions. On the one hand, India is the second largest exporter of beef in the world. Animals are sacrificed in an Islamic manner in large slaughterhouses across the country. And billions are made from this. On the other hand, Indians are forbidden to consume beef. They are beaten and killed for beef. Such things should not happen,” he said.
New rule for cow slaughter
The BJP government in West Bengal issued an official public notice on 13 May. It reinforces the strict ban on slaughtering cattle and buffaloes without a health certificate. The announcement comes just a fortnight before Bakra Eid on May 27. Here’s everything you need to know.
Certificate of Eligibility
The legal framework is based on Sections 4 and 5 of the 1950 Act.
- Animal must be at least 14 years old to qualify.
- He must also be unfit for work or breeding purposes.
- Alternatively, he must be permanently incapacitated due to injury or incurable illness.
- If the two signing officials do not agree, the senior veterinary official will make the final decision.
- Even with a certificate, slaughter must only be carried out at approved slaughterhouses.
The announcement creates serious logistical problems for the observance of Bakra Eid 2026. The timing has made it one of the most debated government announcements in recent weeks.
