Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Mar 25: On Tuesday March 23, a group representing the United Forum for Public Awareness, urged the state Governor, H R Bharadwaj, to send back the Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill, 2010 without giving his assent.

The delegation was led by the convenor of the Forum, B M Yousuf Qureshi, AHINDA state president, K Mukudappa, MLA, Roshan Baig, and Dalit Sangharsh Samiti state president, Lakshminarayana Nagawara.

After meeting the Governor, Mududappa told the press persons that during their meeting with the Governor, they told him that the passage of the bill would adversely affect the livelihood of the agriculturists, businessmen dealing with cattle, slaughter houses, meat sellers etc.

There has also been a hue and cry over the adverse impact the Bill, once it becomes an Act, will have on the wild animals in the zoo, which are primarily being fed with beef  alone because of its low fat content. It is learnt that feeding them with any other meat will not only be a costly affair, but also result in the deterioration of their health, as the animals can not digest other meats without any side affects because of the fact they lead a sedentary life.

A group of organizations, under the banner of the Movement for the Protection of Indian Food Culture, met the Governor on Monday to urge him not to approve the said bills.  At a press conference held later, N V Narasimhaiah, office bearer of the forum for Democracy and Communal amity, criticized the government for passing the bill despite strong opposition from the people and the elected representatives. He termed the bill as an assault on the eating habits of most of the people, and called for its withdrawal. He added that the Bill will put additional burden on the farmers, besides forcing them to live in constant fear of being incarcerated under its various provisions.