Vijayapura: Farmers, the left and Congress leaders have opposed the anti-cow slaughter bill which has been introduced by the BJP-led government. They have dubbed the bill anti-farmer and accused the government of introducing the same with the intention of diverting the public’s attention from the main issues.
Calling out the BJP for their dual standards on the matter, Karnataka Rajya Pranta Raita Sangha vice president Bhimshi Kaladagi said that while the BJP government in Karnataka wants to ban cow slaughter, the Goan government led by the same party is against the ban as it believes that the ban will affect tourism.
“What kind of hypocrisy is this? How can a cow be holy in one BJP-ruled state and a mere animal in another BJP-ruled state? If the party has any real concern for the cows, then why don’t the BJP leaders put pressure on the Goan government to introduce a similar law?” he asked.
He criticized the state government for introducing the bill in the Assembly, stating that no farmers’ union was consulted.
Asserting that the rural economy has been dependent on cattle for generations, he said, “When the animals grow old and become unproductive, what does the BJP want the farmers to do?. Keep them at home for no reason? When the farmers themselves are facing a financial crunch, where does the BJP people want the farmers to get the money to lookm after unproductive animals?”
Regarding the government’s plan to construct cow sheds for non-productive cows, Kaladagi asked why the government should spend the public’s money on unproductive animals, as it will only be an additional burden.
Speaking on the occasion, Congress leader Mohammed Rafiq Tapal flayed the bill stating that it has been framed only to create fear among the minority community.
“The government has introduced the law to appease the RSS and Sangh Pariwar,” he said.
Questioning why the government has not banned beef exports, he said the law will only hurt the poor while the big exporters will remain unaffected.
Communist leader B Bhagwan Reddy, addressing the gathering, called out the BJP for diverting the public’s attention from real issues.
“The farmers in the state are protesting against the amendment to the land reform Act. The government has come up with a cow slaughter prevention act instead of addressing the issue. Has any farmers’ union has asked for this Act? Has the government consulted the farmers?” he asked.
Pointing out to the clause which states that no action should be taken against those working to protect of cows, Reddy raised the alarm that the law could be misused by anti-social elements in the name of protecting cows.
Claiming that several BJP leaders and people associated with right-wing organizations are the main beef exporters in the state, he wondered why the BJP has no guts to take action against them.
