MUMBAI // Until recently, Babu Qureshi had cooked the same dish every day for the past eight years: beef kebab masala. The 67-year-old chef, who works in Al Rehmani restaurant in south Mumbai now stands idle, having been demoted to the position of a waiter following a ban on beef in the state of Maharashtra. He faces an uncertain future.
“What can I do?” he sighs.
The beef ban, which was imposed by the state this month, ruled by the Hindu nationalist BJP, extended the existing prohibition of slaughtering cows to bulls and bullocks. Under the new law, sale or possession of the meat can result in imprisonment for up to five years. Cows are considered sacred by majority Hindus.
This is having a major impact on businesses across Mumbai, the state’s largest city, involved in the meat trade.
“About 15 million people in Maharashtra are directly or indirectly dependent on beef,” said Mohammed Aslam Khan, a beef trader, who was among those led a protest in Mumbai last Tuesday, which attracted hundreds of those affected by the ban. “We’re not sure what’s going to happen to our livelihoods. We demand that the government reverses the ban or provides us with alternative employment.”
In Crawford Market, one of the Mumbai’s most popular and historic markets, butchers who sell beef have gone on strike because of the ban.
Anis Qureshi, 50, says he has been working as a beef butcher almost all his life, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather.
“The government has got it wrong,” he says. “We’ve been working here selling beef since the time of the British.”
He says that there are 200 stalls which used to sell beef in Crawford Market, each one on average employing six people.
The Qureshi community – a Muslim sub-caste in India – has been associated with the beef industry for generations.
Aslam Khan, 21, a migrant worker from Lucknow in Utter Pradesh is a labourer for the butchers in the market. He was earning 250 rupees (Dh14) a day, 100 rupees of which he would send home to his family in north India. Now, he is earning nothing, he says.
Zahoor Khan, 55, another butcher in Mumbai, says that his family of four children and his wife who live in the Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh were dependent on the 3,000 to 4,000 rupees he would send home, largely generated from sales of beef.
Those butchers could still sell water buffalo meat but have chosen to shut down completely in protest.
The Deonar abattoir in Mumbai, which according to Bloomberg, slaughters 400 buffalo and bullocks a day and generates 250,000 rupees a day for the city’s government, has stopped operations following the ban. Other abattoirs across the city have also halted the slaughter of water buffalo by way of protesting against the ban.
Water buffalo meat, which sometimes comes under the definition of beef, however, is still permitted in the state. The vast majority of bovine meat which is produced and exported from India is actually buffalo meat.
India is the world’s largest producer of buffalo meat, known as carabeef, accounting for 42.8 per cent of production globally, according to the US department of agriculture (USDA). It expects production of the meat to grow from 4.1 million tonnes last year to 4.3 million tonnes this year, with exports to the Middle East, Africa, and South East Asia predicted to rise.
Exports of buffalo meat to the UAE reached about 7.8 billion rupees and 43,793 tonnes in the year ended March 2103 compared with 6.6bn rupees and 43,651 tonnes the previous year.
Exports of cow meat from India are not permitted under the law, although it is widely believed that exports out of the country do consist of some cow meat. Cattle are often smuggled to states where slaughtering cows is not illegal, including Kerala.
Al Qureshi Exports in Mumbai, which exports buffalo meat to countries including the UAE and Saudi Arabia, has its own abattoir and meat-processing plant, has not felt any impact from the beef ban.
“We have no problem in our business and volumes,” says Shakir Qureshi, who runs the company. “Everything is working as normal.”
Russia in December announced that it would accept buffalo meat from India, which is expected to help boost business for exporters.
In India, consumption of bovine meat is about 2 million tonnes a year, the USDA’s figures show.
Several states in India, including Gujarat, prohibit the slaughtering of cows, although some of them allow consumption of beef if it is brought in from outside of the state.
Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister, is against cow slaughter and has expressed discontent with what he has described as “a pink revolution”.
Bovine meat exports rose 11-fold to reach $4.4bn in the last financial year to the end of March 2014 compared to $395 million 10 years earlier, according to data from India’s Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority.
One of the major appeals of beef is its price. Mohammed Zakir Qureshi, 45, a butcher, says that he was selling beef for 120 rupees a kilogram. Goat meat, meanwhile, sells for 500 rupees per kg and the price of chicken is about 50 per cent more expensive than beef, he explains.
“I used to buy three kilograms of beef a day for my own household of 10 people,” he says. “Now we’re eating vegetarian food, which is more costly. I’ve been eating beef since I was a child.”
Mohammed Mushtaq, a 50-year-old taxi driver in Mumbai, says that he is buying goat meat instead of beef now, but because it is four times in price, he can only afford to buy it in small quantities.
“Nobody has the right to tell me what to eat,” he says. “I am more inconvenienced than angry.”
A number of restaurants in Mumbai and the rest of India, including McDonald’s, do not serve beef at all anyway, because having it on the menu would deter many Hindu customers.
But for some eateries, beef was driving sales.
Yasin Kadiwal, who manages Al Rehmani restaurant, which was popular for its beef dishes, says that he has seen a drop in business because of the ban.
“We’re giving chicken instead but there’s no taste with chicken,” he says.
A manager at another restaurant in Mumbai said that a number of customers were turning up and asking for beef and would then walk out out when they found it was unavailable.
There are concerns that the ban could lead to a rise in prices of other meats and to a rise in black market trade, as well as impact on other industries including leather.
Wilfred D’Sylva, a retiree, 80, says that he relishes the taste of beef and managed to pick up half a kilo of the meat last week in Mumbai, but he paid double the market rate compared to when such a purchase would have been legal.
“I’m upset because the price of everything else will go up. Why not ban alcohol? Why not ban chicken?”
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
WITHIN%20SAND
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THE BIO
Family: I have three siblings, one older brother (age 25) and two younger sisters, 20 and 13
Favourite book: Asking for my favourite book has to be one of the hardest questions. However a current favourite would be Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier
Favourite place to travel to: Any walkable city. I also love nature and wildlife
What do you love eating or cooking: I’m constantly in the kitchen. Ever since I changed the way I eat I enjoy choosing and creating what goes into my body. However, nothing can top home cooked food from my parents.
Favorite place to go in the UAE: A quiet beach.
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
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MATCH INFO
What: Brazil v South Korea
When: Tonight, 5.30pm
Where: Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Tickets: www.ticketmaster.ae
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
The biog
Name: Salvador Toriano Jr
Age: 59
From: Laguna, The Philippines
Favourite dish: Seabass or Fish and Chips
Hobbies: When he’s not in the restaurant, he still likes to cook, along with walking and meeting up with friends.
The specs: 2018 Nissan Patrol Nismo
Price: base / as tested: Dh382,000
Engine: 5.6-litre V8
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 428hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 560Nm @ 3,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 12.7L / 100km
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
The low down on MPS
What is myofascial pain syndrome?
Myofascial pain syndrome refers to pain and inflammation in the body’s soft tissue. MPS is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (connective tissue that covers the muscles, which develops knots, also known as trigger points).
What are trigger points?
Trigger points are irritable knots in the soft tissue that covers muscle tissue. Through injury or overuse, muscle fibres contract as a reactive and protective measure, creating tension in the form of hard and, palpable nodules. Overuse and sustained posture are the main culprits in developing trigger points.
What is myofascial or trigger-point release?
Releasing these nodules requires a hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure to release muscular shortness and tightness. This eliminates restrictions in connective tissue in orderto restore motion and alleviate pain. Therapy balls have proven effective at causing enough commotion in the tissue, prompting the release of these hard knots.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela
Edited by Sahm Venter
Published by Liveright
Squads
India (for first three ODIs) Kohli (capt), Rohit, Rahul, Pandey, Jadhav, Rahane, Dhoni, Pandya, Axar, Kuldeep, Chahal, Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar, Umesh, Shami.
Australia Smith (capt), Warner, Agar, Cartwright, Coulter-Nile, Cummins, Faulkner, Finch, Head, Maxwell, Richardson, Stoinis, Wade, Zampa.
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
Points classification after Stage 4
1. Arnaud Demare (France / FDJ) 124
2. Marcel Kittel (Germany / Quick-Step) 81
3. Michael Matthews (Australia / Sunweb) 66
4. Andre Greipel (Germany / Lotto) 63
5. Alexander Kristoff (Norway / Katusha) 43
FIXTURES
New Zealand v France, second Test
Saturday, 12.35pm (UAE)
Auckland, New Zealand
South Africa v Wales
Sunday, 12.40am (UAE), San Juan, Argentina
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
The biog
Hometown: Birchgrove, Sydney Australia
Age: 59
Favourite TV series: Outlander Netflix series
Favourite place in the UAE: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque / desert / Louvre Abu Dhabi
Favourite book: Father of our Nation: Collected Quotes of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
Thing you will miss most about the UAE: My friends and family, Formula 1, having Friday's off, desert adventures, and Arabic culture and people
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
FULL%20RESULTS
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How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
