From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Belagavi, Jun 6: Women and Child Welfare Minister Lakshmi Hebbalkar said she favours division of Belagavi district for administrative convenience and also in the interest of development of the entire district.

``Our government is aware of the situation and will take a decision at the appropriate time,’’ she said.

Speaking to media persons in Belagavi on Tuesday, Hebbalkar echoed the views expressed by her senior Cabinet colleague and Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy that she is personally in favour of banning slaughter of all animals.

``I am saying this in my personal capacity and as a woman. I am against killing of all animals and not just cows,’’ she said.

Animal Husbandry Minister K Venkatesh first raised the issue and said the anti-cow slaughter legislation needs a relook as it permits slaughtering of buggaloes and oxen but not cows. How can farmers look , after aged animals, which have stopped giving milk, he had asked.

Former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai and other BJP leaders have warned the Congress government not to tinker with the anti-cow slaughter law as cow is revered as gaumata.

The minister urged the people not to fall a prey to the false propaganda by the BJP leaders over the Guarantees and said the Siddaramaiah government will implement all the five guarantees.

She made it clear that she is not interested in talking about the BJP protests. ``Let the BJP first clarify as what are promises they have fulfilled. People are not fools. They know everything. The people will not believe in BJP’s false propaganda, she said.

Hebbalkar said the government will discuss and take a decision on raising the payments of Anganawadi workers. ``We have made a promise in our election manifesto and the government will implement it,’’ she added.