BANGALORE: Several organisations have joined hands in the movement against the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill, 2010.
On Monday, animal rights activists, Dalit groups and Muslim groups staged a protest against the Bill in front of Town Hall.
Former MLC A K Subbaiah who participated in the protest, said they opposed the entire Bill. Even the amended version was sent back to President Pratibha Patil, a few months ago.
“This is an ill-conceived and motivated Bill. Urbanites, who claim to be vegetarians, and who do not do cattle rearing or farming have proposed and framed the Bill. This is part of the Muslim hate campaign. The state government should withdraw the Bill,” Subbaiah urged.
Noted thinker, Nagari Babaiah termed the Bill as not only anti-Dalit and minorities, but also as anti-constitutional and anti-farmers. “This Bill does not focus on preservation of cattle. It will have a counter effect on cattle rearing which the government fails to understand.”
Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Bill makes transportation and slaughter of cows a cognisable offence. If found guilty, an offender will be jailed for 1 to 7 years and fined Rs 25,000 to Rs 1 lakh.
Subbaiah added that the partial ban in the Bill, which passed in 1964 was adequate and no new Bill was required.
“I sell unproductive cattle. There is nothing wrong in it and I don’t understand why it should be stopped. If slaughtering is stopped, cow rearing will also eventually stop. And, agriculture will have an adverse effect. Government should consult the cattle rearers before proposing such Bills.”