Mumbai, June 3 -- Ahead of Bakri Eid on June 7, the Maharashtra government has withdrawn a controversial order by the state cattle welfare commission to close all livestock markets between June 3 and June 8. The state government has also approved a proposal to modernise the 54-year-old Deonar abattoir in Mumbai, according to leaders from the Muslim community who were present for a meeting with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday. The meeting, which included government officials, was held to take stock of preparations for the Muslim festival. The Maharashtra Goseva Ayog, which is part of the state department of animal husbandry, issued a circular last week to all Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMCs) ordering them to close livestock markets from June 3 to June 8. The decision sparked a row, with members of the Muslim community opposing it. During Monday's meeting, Fadnavis informed the Muslim MLAs that the circular had been withdrawn. According to leaders present at the meeting, Fadnavis told them that his government has taken every step to ensure law and order is maintained during Bakri Eid. The MLAs also demanded more abattoirs in Mumbai and the streamlining of the process to obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for slaughtering goats in housing societies. Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh confirmed that the state government responded positively to the issues raised. "We demanded more abattoirs as the only abattoir in Deonar has not been able to meet the demand during Eid. The issue of NOCs given by the BMC for slaughtering goats in housing societies was also discussed," he said. Shaikh also said that he requested the chief minister to take strict action against organisations that, in the name of cow protection, obstruct the transport of non-bovine animals and assault vehicle drivers. Congress MLA Amin Patel said that the demand to modernise the Deonar abattoir was accepted. "We were told that the plan has been approved and the tendering process for the makeover will soon begin," he said....