BJP’s fresh crackdown on cattle slaughter in Bengal: Target Eid?

Kolkata: The BJP government in West Bengal is facing mounting criticism after tightening enforcement of the state’s 1950 cattle slaughter control law ahead of Eid al-Adha, triggering allegations that the move is disrupting both religious practices and the livelihoods of thousands of farmers and traders across communities.

The controversy intensified after BJP leaders and officials reportedly insisted that cattle brought for slaughter must have documents proving their age, including what critics described as “birth certificates” for cows. Under the renewed restrictions, only cattle above 14 years of age can be slaughtered. However, confusion over how owners are expected to officially verify the age of animals has reportedly paralysed cattle markets across parts of Bengal.

As slaughterhouses and livestock markets shut down or slowed operations, beef prices in Bengal are said to have surged sharply from around ₹280 per kilogram to nearly ₹600. The crisis has particularly affected Hindu OBC cattle farmers, including communities dependent on selling ageing, non-milking cattle to sustain their income and purchase younger animals. Several farmers who had allegedly taken large loans to raise cattle for the Bakrid season said the sudden restrictions had pushed them into severe financial distress.

The issue has also spread beyond Bengal. Reports suggest that cattle markets in neighbouring states have witnessed disruptions amid fears of attacks and intimidation by self-styled cow protection groups, leading to reduced cattle supply to Kerala and fears of further price hikes during the festival season.

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra and other opposition leaders have moved the Calcutta High Court challenging the notification. Petitioners argued that the restrictions disproportionately affect poor cattle rearers and traders from vulnerable communities. Opposition parties also maintained that the 1950 law allows the government to grant exemptions for religious purposes and warned that the restrictions risk deepening communal tensions while economically hurting ordinary Hindus and Muslims alike.