Cow slaughter to be offence in Karnataka

As part of the election promise, the BJP Government in Karnataka is mulling the idea of banning cow slaughter by making it a cognizable offence.

The State Cabinet, which met on Wednesday, took a decision to bring a Bill in the next Assembly session to make it an offence. The Bill, according to the Government, has stringent penal provisions, including imprisonment against slaughter of cow and its progeny.

Briefing the media, State Home Minister Dr VS Acharya said, “The State Government has decided to replace Karnataka Prevention of the Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Act of 1964 with this new Bill. This Act is not in the spirit of Article 48 of the Constitution. The new Bill is in tune with the existing laws in other states like Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.”

Reacting to this, State Congress chief RV Deshpande said it was the systematic design of the Sangh Parivar to disturb the peace in the State. He added that the Congress would defeat the Bill.

Deshpande said, “To the best of my knowledge, there is already a central legislation on cow slaughter. They have also specified the punishment. The BJP Government buckling under pressure from Sangh Parivar is trying to bring this legislation.”

“The BJP Government led by Yeddyurappa is carrying on the Sangh Parivar’s agenda… We are going to oppose the Bill and at any cost we will defeat it in the House,” he added.

Recently, beef merchants across the State had protested against the Government’s move to introduce the Bill.

A Cabinet sub-committee, comprising Dr VS Acharya, law minister Suresh Kumar and Animal Husbandry Minister Revu Naik Belamagi, which studied the issue, approved the new legislation, which would also stress on cow protection.

According to the proposed Bill, cow slaughter and transportation would attract imprisonment ranging from one year to seven years and fine from Rs 25,000 to Rs 1 lakh, depending on whether it’s a first time cognizable offence or more than once.

The BJP Government, since it came to power, has been harping on making cow slaughter a cognizable offence in the State

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