AWBI campaign against animal sacrifice before Eid-al-Adha
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New Delhi: The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has launched a campaign against animal sacrifice, ahead of Eid-ulAdha which will be celebrated on August 21-22. It is understood that the move aims at including the slaughter of sacrificial animals by Muslims during the Eid in the category of cruelty to animals, and making inspections and reporting cases.
SP Gupta, chairman of the board, said that the 'volunteers' of the agency will watch out for and report any instances of cruelty to animals.
The apprehension is that under the term 'volunteers', cow vigilantes will rule the roost and create trouble wherever there is a sign of slaughter or transportation of cow.
"If anyone does animal sacrifice, that is punishable, no animal is exempted. People are not aware, they link it to religion, but this is not a religious matter," Gupta said.
Eid-ulAdha is one of the two festivals of Muslims, celebrated with an animal sacrifice and sharing its meat with the poor and needy.
There is no blanket ban on animal sacrifice in India. But, Gupta said, no one bothers to comply with the law and regulations regarding slaughter of animals. As per the law the slaughter has to take place in a registered slaughter house.
The controversial Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules 2017, notified by the environment ministry, banned the sale of cattle, including bulls, bullocks, cows, buffaloes, steers, heifers and calves, and camels for slaughter, including for religious purposes.
The clause on slaughter of sacrificial animals under the rules was stayed by the Supreme Court and later the rules were themselves sought to be replaced with regulations diluted by the environment ministry, dropping the slaughter ban provision altogether.