At a press conference, former CM Siddaramaiah questioned why the BJP’s stance in Karnataka is diametrically opposite to that of Goa.
Karnataka congressional leaders at a joint press conference on Friday said the ruling leaders of the BJP must demonstrate their “real commitment” to protecting cows by taking steps to completely ban the export of beef into the country, in Instead of adopting double standards by banning the slaughter of cows in select states. . On December 9, the ruling BJP government in Karnataka passed the Karnataka Livestock Prevention and Preservation Prevention Act 2020, which is one of the strictest anti-beef laws passed in the country. The law defines beef as the meat of any cattle, and those caught smuggling, illegally transporting, or involved in any atrocity against cows and cattle will be severely punished.
Read: Karnataka Assembly passes strict law against cow slaughter amid uproar
At the press conference in Bengaluru, opposition leader Siddaramaiah said that the BJP should have a uniform stance when it comes to issues such as a ban on the slaughter of cows. “The position of the BJP on the ban on cow slaughter is diametrically opposite in Goa state to what the party has adopted here. In both states it is the ruling party,” he said. He also stated that Congress will have no problem if the BJP bans beef nationwide, or even completely bans the export of beef.
Siddaramaiah argued that it is the BJP’s supporters who are among the country’s leading beef exporters, which is why the BJP does not take a firm position on these issues. “The very premise of moving the controversial bill two days ago is clear, they want to play the emotional card in the two-phase gram panchayat polls scheduled for this month,” he said.
Read: Karnataka’s beef ban: beyond the restaurant menu, here’s how things will change
Citing prominent Hindu seer Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati, Siddaramaiah said that beef exports have increased since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government came to power in 2014. “So I demand, ban beef exports, carry a uniform politics across the country, “said Siddaramaiah. “In Goa, their own party is in power, but they don’t speak a word about banning it, while in Karnataka, they have brought a highly draconian and unscientific bill, why this duplicity?” I ask.
The former Chief Minister added that in 2012-13, beef exports stood at 10.76 lakh tonnes and increased to 14.75 lakh tonnes in 2014-15; the number hovered above 13 lakh tonnes in the following three years. “Why has the BJP not managed to control it? On the one hand, permits are granted for exports and incentives to earn money with them, on the other hand those laws are introduced without proper thought,” he said, adding that the new law It could lead to financial problems, unemployment and distress for farmers.
The BJP hastily introduced Karnataka’s 2020 bill for the prevention of slaughter and the preservation of livestock, which was approved by the assembly on Wednesday, amid strong opposition led by Congress. The Congress party eventually boycotted the remaining legislative session.
The contentious bill has not yet been presented in the Legislative Council, which has been postponed sine die. The state government is now considering turning the bill into law by taking it through the ordinance route.
Karnataka Pradesh Congressional Committee Chairman DK Shivakumar called the bill “draconian, unscientific and anti-farmer”, and required the state government to buy and protect all unproductive livestock from farmers, to ease pressure of raising them, rather than being a burden to the farming community.
.
