Kerala govt prohibits slaughter of pregnant cows

Thiruvananthapuram, April 18: Congress-led UDF government in Kerala Wednesday decided to ban the slaughter of pregnant cows.

A notification would be issued and if necessary amendments would be made to the concerned laws, Chief Minister Ommen Chandy told reporters after a cabinet meeting here.

The decision was taken because of a common view that the slaughter of such cows was a cruel act, Chandy said, adding that the ban would also apply to goats and other cattle.

Earlier President Pratibha Patil gave her node to MP cow slaughter Bill in January this year.

In a departure from past practice in dealing with politically sensitive issues in BJP states, President Pratibha Patil gave her assent to the Madhya Pradesh Prohibition of Cow Slaughter (amendment) Bill 2010 meant to raise the quantum of punishment for offenders and shift the burden to prove innocence to accused.

The amended Bill Madhya Pradesh Govansh Vadh Pratishedh (Sansodhan) Vidheyek 2010 – was sent for Presidential assent last year. In the past, the Centre has been chary of clearing “hindutva related” issues referred by BJP ruled states.