Despite the Karnataka government stating that there is no proposal to repeal the anti-cow slaughter Act of 2020, since the pros and cons are still under discussion, the Opposition BJP, seeking a firm commitment from the State government, stalled the Legislative Council proceedings on July 5, accusing the government of allowing illegal cow slaughter in the State.
Referring to Animal Husbandry Minister K. Venkatesh’s statement in Mysuru earlier, BJP member N. Ravikumar, in the Legislative Council, sought a firm reply from the Minister during the Question Hour and alleged that “thousands of cows” had been illegally slaughtered recently while no action had been taken. He pointed out that religious heads had threatened to sit on a dharna over the move to withdraw the anti-cow slaughter provisions that had been introduced in 2020.
Earlier, in his written reply to Mr. Ravikumar, the Minister said there was no proposal to repeal The Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, 2020, since the pros and cons of such action were under discussion.
However, BJP members took exception to the Minister’s earlier statement where he had asked what was wrong in cow slaughter when buffaloes were being slaughtered. While the statement had turned controversial, the Minister told the Council, “There is no proposal (to repeal the Act). I had made a general statement about the issue.”
‘Politics for votes’
A war of words broke out between the ruling and Opposition benches after BJP members insisted on a statement from the Minister. Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda accused the BJP of sacrificing the interest of the House by indulging in politics over cows for votes.
When the Minister refused to speak any further on the issue, BJP members staged a dharna in the Well, stalling the Question Hour as well as the House proceedings, forcing Council Chairman Basavaraj Horatti to adjourn the House.
On Tuesday, the BJP had not allowed the House to function over moving an adjournment motion on the implementation of five guarantees, but was persuaded to take back the dharna with the Chairman promising to look into the issue.
The precedent
A Bill, which had been passed in 2010 during the tenure of the first BJP government, had been sent for Presidential assent by then Governor H.R. Bharadwaj. While the presidential assent was awaited, the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government withdrew the Bill in 2013-14. The BJP brought in a cow slaughter amendment Bill, which was more stringent than the one passed in 2010. The 2020 Bill has been modelled on a similar law in Uttar Pradesh.
