The GMCL made this statement in their affidavit before the high court yesterday while responding to the petition filed by Govansh Raksha Abhiyan (GRA) against slaughtering of under age cattle in their abattoir situated at Usgaon village, 40 km away from here. 

"On a daily basis, at present about 70-80 cattle are slaughtered (at GMCL). About 60 per cent of the population of Goa is beef eating," the affidavit reads. 

The affidavit mentions that the GMCL does not slaughter cows, which is banned as per the law. 

The high court bench has asked GMCL to suffice their claim about the percentage of beef eating population by submitting the statistics. 

The case would be heard again on June 26. 

The slaughtering at GMCL was kept on standstill by the high court since May, after the three-member committee constituted by the court noticed irregularities at this state-run facility. 

The GMCL, presenting a case for restarting of the slaughter house, also claimed that a large number of foreign tourists who come to Goa are also beef eaters, thus demand for beef is very high in the state. 

The affidavit has accused GRA of being interested in publicity and using the present petition as publicity interest litigation. 

"They have been regularly giving publicity to the petition by giving interviews where they misguide the press and have even tried to communalise the issue," the GMCL said.