BENGALURU: The Karnataka Cabinet on Monday decided to promulgate an Ordinance to give effect to the contentious anti-cow slaughter bill that is yet to be approved by the legislative council.
Once it comes into effect, there will be a blanket prohibition of slaughter of cows in the state, however, the slaughter houses will continue to function and beef consumption will not be prohibited with respect to buffalo meat.
“The anti-cow slaughter law is not new. We have had it for decades. Previously, there was a ban on slaughter of cows until the age of 13.We have extended it with an intention that older cows should not be left out. Since the prohibition does not extend to buffaloes, there is no ban on beef consumption,” Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J C Madhuswamy said.
Speaking to reporters after the cabinet meeting here, he said the ordinance is likely to be sent to the Governor in a day’s time for his assent.
The government is also considering building ‘gaushalas’ (cow shelters) to ensure that aged cows that are not used for milching, do not become a burden on the farmer, he added.
The government had to opt for the ordinance route, as the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill that was passed by the legislative assembly earlier this month during the winter session amid din and stiff opposition from Congress, has not been approved by the legislative council yet.
The legislative council was adjourned sine die even before the bill was tabled there for passage there. For a bill to become law, its passage in the council, followed by assent by the Governor is necessary.
Noting that the objections that the centre had regarding the then BJP government’s anti cow slaughter bill of 2010 has been addressed in this bill. Animal Husbandry Minister Prabhu Chauhan said, “In the old bill there was prohibition on slaughtering of buffaloes also, but in the 2020 bill the prohibition is for slaughtering of buffaloes until the age of thirteen.
In a statement released by his office, he said cow is the root of India’s culture, faith and farmers’ livelihood. Expressing concern over the decline in the number of cows year-after-year, he called on everyone to rise above politics to work towards the growth of the state’s cattle assets. “Opposing the Bill just for the sake of politics and misleading the public is intolerable.”
Citing 2019 cattle census, Chauhan said, “2.38 lakh cows are slaughtered every year. Even a single day’s delay will lead to the slaughter of 662 cows. If it continues at this pace, we aren’t far away from a time when cows will only be read about in books. Stopping illegal transportation and slaughtering is our priority.”
Despite resistance from opposition, the then BJP government led by B S Yediyurappa in 2010 had got the controversial Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill passed that proposed to replace the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Act, 1964.
The bill had widened the definition of ‘’cattle’’ and imposed a blanket ban on cattle slaughter, coupled with stringent penalty clauses for violation. However, the Congress government headed by Siddaramaiah that came to power in 2013, withdrew the bill that was before the President for his assent.
After the BJP came back to power in the state, several party leaders have been making a pitch to re-enact the anti-cow slaughter law.
Chauhan along with officials, had even travelled to Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat to study and gather information regarding implementation of the laws there, before bringing the 2020 bill to assembly earlier this month.
According to sources, BJP that had hurriedly tabled the bill and ensured its passage in the assembly during the winter session did not table it in the council sensing that the numbers were not in its favour with combined opposition-Congress and JD(S)- against it, and may refer it to the joint select committee.