Yeddy Develops Cold Feet: Bill Against Cow Slaughter Withdrawn
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Mar 3: In a sudden and surprise decision, the B S Yeddyurappa-led BJP regime in Karnataka has suddenly developed cold feet on its much publicized move to bring a legislation to ban Cow Slaughter in Karnataka and has moved the state legislature seeking permission to withdraw the proposed Bill.
However, the Yeddyurappa government has surprisingly not revealed the reason for its move to withdraw the Bill.
There is, however, speculation in the corridors of the state legislature that the Government is thinking of introducing a more comprehensive legislation probably after the BBMP polls. It is learnt that the Government is seriously considering curtailing the ongoing state legislature probably towards the end of next week to enable the members of both ruling and opposition parties to take part in the BBMP polls to be held by the end of this month and resume the session in April, when the more comporehensive bill on banning cow slaughter might be reintroduced.
Karnataka’s Animal Hushandry Minister Revunaik Belamagi on Wednesday introduced a motion in the state legislative assembly seeking permission to withdraw the controversial Karnataka Cow Slaughter Prevention and Livestock Protection (amendment) Bill 2009.
Belamagi, who moved a suo-motu motion seeking permission to withdraw the proposed Bill, declined to divulge the reasons behind the Government’s decision even as Congress opposition leader Siddaramaiah and Deputy leader T B Jayachandra persistently demanded to know the reason.
Karnataka’s Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister S Suresh Kumar defended the Government’s decision and pointed out that under Rule 107 of Rules of Procedure and Conduct in Business empowered the Government to withdraw any Bill at any point.
State legislative assembly speaker K G Bopaiah supported the Government’s contention and pointed out that the Government was not obliged to disclose the reasons behind any decision.
Siddaramaiah and others, however, said the Government should not re-introduce the bill at a later period.
The Congress opposition leader alleged that the Yeddyurappa regime had to beat a hasty retreat on its controversial move, which was announced with the intention of impressing the Hindu religious leaders and Sangh Parivar elements, as the ruling party feared that the controversial move had already been stoutly opposed by the minority community and Dalits.
With the Government compelled to conduct the BBMP polls by the end of the month as per the Karnataka high court orders, the ruling party has sought to ensure that it did not lose the support of the minorities and Dalits whose votes was crucial in several wards of the city corporation, Siddaramaiah said.
Meanwhile, Karnataka’s Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Jagadish Shettar told the state legislative assembly that all Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of zilla panchayats and Deputy Commissioners have been instructed to prepare action plans to tackle drinking water problem on a war-footing in villages.
Replying to a calling attention motion, the minister said CEOs and Deputy Commissioners have been told to prepare plans and set aside funds to mitigate drinking water crisis in April and May in villages which have been facing severe water crisis. There was no shortage of funds in the Department and funds would be provided to take up works suggested by Task Forces headed by legislators, he said.