The BJP brought cows to the Secretariat on Wednesday after presenting the bill for a bid.
Bangalore:
Karnataka’s controversial new cow protection law, which replaces the 1964 legislation that also prohibited the slaughter of cows, has been red flagged for both harsher punishments and provisions many call “undemocratic.”
The new law defines “cattle” as male and female cows, calves, bulls, oxen, and buffalo under the age of 13. “Beef” is defined as the meat of cattle in any form.
The punishment for a first-time conviction ranges from a prison term of three to seven years and fines between Rs 50,000 and Rs 5 lakhs. Subsequent convictions could result in fines of up to Rs 10 lakh and a jail term of up to seven years. The sale and transportation of livestock to the slaughterhouse (within the state and across its border) is also prohibited.
Many have expressed concern about the new law.
“Muslims do not drink alcohol. But they have never asked any government to ban alcohol because it is against our religion. We have never asked Christians not to eat pork,” the owner of a restaurant in NDTV told NDTV. Bengaluru.
“Those animals that have stopped giving milk. Farmers who have buffalo that they cannot sell in the market, what will happen to them?” asked the restaurant owner.
The ruling BJP has never hidden his plan to introduce legislation on this issue.
KS Eshwarappa, the state Rural Development minister, told NDTV: “The BJP government was there before and banned the slaughter of cows. But Congress canceled that and made the slaughter of cows possible. Now our lives have been blessed. The dream of those who love cows has come true. “
Congress, which says the new bill also hurts farmers’ interests, has accused the BJP of trying to polarize communities by targeting beef and its consumers ahead of local elections to be held later. of this month.
“The whole bill is against the farmers. They are trying to polarize (the people). The agricultural community that has been raising cattle has been affected. They did not argue … they brought it urgently because of the gram elections panchayat (local body) … trying to saffron things, “said DK Shivakumar, head of the state unit of Congress.
The opposition party also boycotted Thursday’s Assembly session, despite a call from Prime Minister BS Yediyurappa, to protest what former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said was the “murder of democracy.”
“Last time, the cow slaughter bill was passed. There were some amendments that were brought up in the Assembly and passed. People in Congress are always opposed. I don’t want to react to such things. the Assembly, “said the Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said.
The Janata Dal Secular also opposed the bill, and former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy noted that provisions that oblige farmers to feed and breed certain breeds, which he said were “absolutely useless,” would cost a minimum of Rs 200. per day and farmers’ loads would increase.
Among other criticisms mounted by Mr. Kumaraswamy was the “fear that the provision to allow the police and other officials to inspect the facilities may lead to harassment and fear of psychosis.”
Although the Karnataka Bill for the Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Livestock of 2020, which was presented and passed in the Karnataka Assembly in a hurry, appears to be an attempt to protect livestock, in the long run it will surely affect the won. (1/16)
– HD Kumaraswamy (@hd_kumaraswamy) December 10, 2020
The former chief minister also criticized the government for passing the bill in a “rush”, saying that while the bill appears to protect livestock, “it will affect livestock in the long run.”
Mr. Kumaraswamy warned the BJP that “if you try to make the sector unviable through such impractical clauses, then the trend of farmer suicides will surely increase.”
It doesn’t stop with this bill.
The ruling BJP is also planning legislation targeting “love jihad,” the right-wing conspiracy theory according to which Muslim men enter into relationships with Hindu women to convert them by force, for a future session of the Assembly.
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