The BJP government in Karnataka has succeeded in passing the contentious anti-cow slaughter bill in the legislative assembly. However, the new law can be enacted only through an ordinance as the legislative council was adjourned sine die on Thursday, before the bill could come up for discussion.
While the saffron party is rejoicing over the passage of the crucial bill in the assembly, as the ban on cow slaughter was one of the promises made in the BJP's poll manifesto, the comprehensive legislation which bars slaughter of cow, calf of a cow and bull, bullock and buffalo below 13 years, has drawn flak from the Congress party, which has termed the law as "communal" and "politically motivated".
The BJP, meanwhile, stated that the 1964 Act has been repealed to "prohibit slaughter of cattle and for preservation and for the provement of the breeds of cattle and to endeavour to organise agriculture and animal husbandry in terms of Article 48 of the Constitution. The new law, when enacted, would impose a minimum three years of imprisonment (which may extend to seven years) and fine of Rs 50,000 per cattle (which may extend to Rs five lakh). Subsequent offences would attract more stringent punishment.
The Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill, 2020, passed in the assembly, has evoked strong reaction from the Congress, which accused the BJP of playing "votebank politics" just ahead of the gram panchayat elections. While the JD(S) has expressed concern that the ban would further burden the distressed farmers and subject them to harassment by corrupt officers.
"The new law will compel the poor farmer to feed male calves, aged and diseased cattle or unproductive cattle. The economic burden will eventually drive away the farmers from diary farming. The clauses that insist on a permit from authorised bodies and certification by veterinary doctors to slaughter the cattle will pave the way for license raj and corruption," warned former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, adding that the law should protect both the cattle and the cattle rearing farmers.
Leader of opposition Siddaramaiah slammed the bill as "unscientific" and "anti-farmer" and "communal" in nature.
"The new law is politically motivated and provokes communal sentiment. It is not a law that reflects BJP's love or devotion towards the cattle. The BJP should have banned cow slaughter across India especially Goa, Kerala and northeastern states and banned export of beef, if they had real concern towards the cattle," mocked Siddaramaiah, who addressed press meet along with KPCC chief D. K. Shivakumar on Friday.
Siddaramaiah added that the 1964 Act had allowed slaughtering of diseased cattle and those deemed unfit for agriculture or diary farming. "The new Act is only to save the cow vigilantes who are making false allegations against cattle transporters," added Siddaramaiah.
"Before banning slaughter of cattle, the government should buy all the unproductive cattle from the farmers or bear the cost of feeding these cattle.
Citing the Livestock Census 2019, the Congress leaders stated that there were 84.69 lakh cattle heads in the state. The annual requirement of fodder was 2.76 crore tonnes, against the available 1.49 crore tonnes.
"According to a study, every year, 3.4 crore new male calves are born and nearly six crore cows turn unproductive (stop giving milk). The average annual expenditure on a cattle is Rs 36,000. There is shortage of fodder across the 159 cow shelters (goshaales) being run by the state government. The farmers are already in distress owing to consecutive years of drought. The new law on cow slaughter will only create social conflicts and unrest in the rural areas," cautioned Siddaramaiah.
