New Delhi: Days after the BJP-led government in Karnataka passed the strict Karnataka Livestock Preservation and Killing Prevention Act, 2020, the state’s chief deputy minister said cow watchers would have “scope to work on this provision. “, raising fears that the law could be used to legitimize violence through self-proclaimedgau rakshaks‘against members of small communities involved in the livestock trade.
“Before, life was at risk for the vigilantes … not those in the (cattle) trade,” CN Ashwath Narayan reportedly said. NDTV. when asked about concerns that the new cow slaughter bill will protect the ‘gau rakshaks’.
The new bill reportedly seeks to protect “persons acting in good faith” to prevent cow slaughter from being the subject of legal action. According to the bill, no lawsuit, prosecution or other judicial proceeding will be brought against the competent authority or any person exercising powers under this legislation in “good faith”.
“The vigilantes or anyone who is working for a cause and the law of the land should definitely have a margin to work on this provision,” Narayan said.
He also claimed that in Karnataka, “only the cow watchers have lost their lives” and that people in the cattle trade “were fully armed.” “They [cattle traders] they were taking lives and killing people. They are not the vigilantes, ”Narayan said.
However, as Sukanya Shantha of The wire As reported, the state has a long history of a violent vigilante campaign against the consumption of beef. During the last 15 years, there have been many cases of vigilante groups attacking and killing people involved in the trade.
The bill, which was adopted by the state assembly on Wednesday, seeks a total ban on the slaughter of all cattle and buffalo under 13 years of age. The bill also imposes severe punishment in case of violation of the legislation, including imprisonment for between three and seven years with a fine of not less than 50,000 rupees per livestock and can be extended up to 7 lakh rupees. The interstate transportation of livestock will also be prohibited without prior permission from the competent authorities.
In addition, the bill criminalizes the sale of livestock for the intentional slaughter or slaughter of livestock and, if convicted, the court may seize the defendant’s livestock, vehicle, facilities and material confiscated on behalf of the defendant. state government. Police officers will also be able to visit facilities where a “suspicious slaughter” is taking place, according to the bill, and will be allowed to seize livestock.
The bill, which faced strong criticism from opposition parties Congress and Janata Dal (Secular), has drawn criticism from former Prime Minister HD Kumaraswamy, who said it could be “politically misused.”
“There is a fear that the provision allowing police and other officials to inspect dairy facilities could lead to officials harassing farmers and creating a psychosis of fear,” Kumaraswamy said.
How can a farmer ensure that the cattle brought in are not diverted to slaughterhouses? Please don’t force farmers to run through government offices instead of focusing on agriculture. (13/16)
– HD Kumaraswamy (@hd_kumaraswamy) December 10, 2020
Meat traders and sellers in Goa have also raised concerns, claiming that the new bill will affect the tourist state’s supply of beef.
Farmers protesting in Bengaluru also raised concerns about the draft law against the slaughter of cows. “It is common for farmers to sell a cow or a buffalo when they stop producing milk. We will take care of them, but we want the government to introduce an insurance plan for the cattle, so that when the cattle die we will be compensated, ”said Kodihalli Chandrashekar, president of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, a pro-farmers organization.
In neighboring Telangana, the BJP national leader, P. Muralidhar Rao, also raised demands for similar legislation against the slaughter of cows.
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