Anti-cow slaughter bill passed in Karnataka

Bengaluru: Despite a strong protest from the opposition parties, the Karnataka Legislative Assembly passed the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill - 2020 on Wednesday otherwise known as anti-cow slaughter Bill in the state.

Staging a strong protest, legislators of Congress and Janata Dal (S), led by leader of the opposition Siddaramaiah and H.K. Kumaraswamy rushed into the well of the House as the Bill was presented by Haj, Wakf and Animal Husbandry minister Prabhu Chauhan.

They alleged the Bill was not discussed for tabling in the Business Advisory Committee meeting, but this charge was vehemently denied by the Speaker, Vishweshwara Hegde Kaageri.

Taking serious objection to the ruling BJP introducing and passage of the Bill without being mentioned in the Agenda, Leader of the opposition Siddaramaiah termed it as an anti-Constitutional step that has forced the Congress to boycott the Legislature session from today onwards even as the JD(S) staged a walkout opposing the decision.

Meanwhile, Karnataka, Law Minister JC Madhuswamy said that slaughter of buffalo above 13 years will be allowed in the state.

Several farmer and Dalit organisations had opposed the move to bring the law.

"The farming community is suffering severe economic hardship in the State because of the pandemic. The sale of aged cows, bullocks and buffaloes allows a farmer to alleviate his miserable situation to an extent and this law will deny even that relief. Somehow, the BJP's ideology wants us to feel that vegetarianism is supreme whereas non-vegetarianism is bad, but how the poor Dalits and religious minorities get nutritional food without beef?," J.M. Veerasangaiah, working president of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha had asked in a press conference in the September.