Overview

• On May 27 the Maharashtra Goseva Ayog issued a circular directing APMCs to halt all livestock markets from June 3 to 8 to prevent illegal bovine slaughter ahead of Eid al-Adha.
• Opposition MLAs told reporters after meeting the Chief Minister that the state government is considering modifying the weeklong suspension in response to mounting protests.
• Ayog chairman Shekhar Mundada has denied withdrawing the advisory and stressed it is nonbinding guidance intended only to curb cow slaughter.
• Farmers, traders and daily wage workers warn that shutting markets for goats, sheep and buffaloes will cause significant income losses in rural communities.
• Critics from the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi and other groups contend the Ayog overstepped its advisory role by issuing direct instructions to Agriculture Produce Market Committees.