CM Attacks Congress, JD(S) for Opposing Anti-Cow Slaughter Bill

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Aug 16: Even as Congress leaders from the state flew to Delhi to urge President Pratibha Patil to reject the state Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Bill, which was passed in the legislature without any debate, chief minister B S Yeddyurappa lambasted the Congress and JD(S) leaders for their opposition in order to 'appease the minorities.'
               
The chief minister said it was unfortunate that former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and other state JD(S) leaders as also state Congress leaders had met the President to oppose the bill and expressed confidence of getting President Pratibha Patil’s approval.

Yeddyurappa pointed out that Mahatma Gandhi wanted a ban on cow slaughter and said seven to eight states have already enacted legislation in that regard. Even the Supreme Court had upheld the ban on cow slaughter, he said, and claimed that minorities were not opposed to imposing the ban.
               
Criticising Deve Gowda’s recent statement that JD(S) would bring hundreds of old and aged cows, ox and bulls and leave them before his residence and also in front of Keshavakrupa, the RSS headquarters in Bangalore, he said such short-sighted policies aimed at pleasing minorities would not succeed.
               
''Neither JD(S) nor Congress will be able to hurt the feelings of majority of Hindus,” he said pointing out that all the Swamijis and many of the Hindu and Christian leaders had welcomed the ban on cow slaughter.
               
Meanwhile, state BJP president K S Eshwarappa, who spoke to reporters during his tour, challenged the Congress and the JD(S) to face the ensuing by-elections to the Gulbarga and Kadur assembly constituencies on September 13 on the issue of cow slaughter ban. ''Let us see whether the people support those opposing cow slaughter or those in favour of cow slaughter," he said.