By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Bangaluru: At a time when newly formed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governments in Haryana and Maharashtra are trying to push harsher cow slaughtering bill, the Congress ruled Karnataka on Saturday withdrew previous BJP government’s decision that had made the cow slaughter law very stringent, amid protest and slogan-shouting by the BJP members.
The withdrawal of two bills restores the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Act, 1964, that governs slaughter of cattle in the State. This Act also restricts slaughter of cows, calf and she-buffaloes, but it allows slaughter of bulls, bullocks and buffaloes aged above 12 years, or if they are not fit for breeding or draught or do not give milk.
Courtesy: daily-sun.com
Amidst dharna and slogan shouting by the BJP in the well of the House, the assembly passed the bill which seeks to withdraw the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill 2010 and Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Preservation (Amendment) Bill 2012.
The Bills were passed by both the Houses of the Legislature during BJP rule had widened the definition of cattle, made punishment harsher and increased the age of animal to be slaughtered but it did not receive the Presidential assent. The Congress, which was in the opposition benches then, had opposed it.
The Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill 2010 had sought to consider slaughter of cattle a punishable crime. There was stiff resistance to this as several people and organisations alleged that it would virtually ban beef-eating. Some farmers expressed concern as it had banned the slaughter of even he-buffaloes.
Even as this Bill was pending before the President, the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Preservation (Amendment) Bill 2012 was adopted by the Legislature. This Bill had broadened the definition of cow by including bull and bullock.
The present Chief Minister Siddaramiah had announced his intention to withdraw these Bills as soon as he took oath as Chief Minister in 2013, three months later the State Cabinet too had decided in August 2013 to withdraw the Bills.
When the BJP members staged a dharna, in the assembly and tore copies of the bills as presiding officers initiated the process to withdraw them; the JD(S) neither opposed nor supported the move.
BJP leader Jagadish Shettar said that his party would soon hold a meeting of its key leaders to finalise a State-wide campaign to be launched against the State government for its decision of withdrawing bills.
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