Karnataka’s Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences Minister K Venkatesh has sparked a controversy, indicating that the Congress government might reconsider the prevention of cow slaughter in the state.
The previous BJP government had passed the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle (Amendment) Bill, 2020, in 2021.
Taking strong exception to Venkatesh’s statement, former chief minister Basavaraj S Bommai said, “Indians have an emotional connection with the cow and worship them as mother”.
Earlier, the minister said no decision has been made regarding amending the Act.
“We haven’t decided yet, When the BJP was in power, they passed the Bill, which allowed the slaughter of buffaloes but not cows. If we can slaughter buffaloes, then why not cows,” he had asked on Saturday, 3 June.
The minister’s statement was circulated widely on social media.
Also read: Bommai says it is ‘reverse-gear government’ in Karnataka
BJP condemns minister’s statement
In a series of tweets, Bommai termed the statement shocking. “Animal Husbandry Minister K Venkatesh’s statement is shocking,” he tweeted. “We condemn his statement. We Indians have an emotional connection with the cow and worship them as mother,” he added.
The BJP leader wondered if Venkatesh wanted a change in portfolio or trying to appease the Congress high command.
“The Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, was the first to advocate a ban on cow slaughter. A ban on cow slaughter advocated by Mahatma Gandhi was enacted in several states in the 1960s,” he said.
Bommai felt the minister’s statement would lead to “large-scale smuggling of cows and mass slaughtering factories in the state”.
“The law was introduced during our government to prevent illegal slaughterhouses. No new Act has been brought in Karnataka. We enforced the existing law,” he further said.
Also read: When Kerala was just a vote short of banning cow slaughter
Advise minister, Bommai tells CM
Asking Venkatesh to think twice before making such statements, Bommai appealed to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to appropriately advise his Cabinet colleague.
Venkatesh made the statement while responding to a question on the difficulties faced by farmers in managing aged cows. He shared his experience of hiring an earthmover to bury the carcass of his cow.
Along with Bommai, several other BJP leaders, too, including Mysuru MP Pratap Simha, condemned the minister’s statement.
The BJP that passed the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act had imposed a blanket ban on slaughter of cattle in the state. The only slaughter allowed is of terminally-ill cattle and buffaloes aged above 13 years.
The then Opposition Congress had opposed the legislation.
