Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Dec 10: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state unit president and Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said, "In Indian culture, a cow is considered as 'Gau Vishwasya Mataram'. It has special prominence in Indian culture. In this culture, there is faith and emotional attachment with the cattle."

He was speaking to media on Thursday, December 10 after performing 'Gau Puja' outside the district BJP office, a day after the BJP government in the state passed a revised version of Anti-Cow Slaughter Bill in the assembly. He said, "In our culture, we respect and worship our mother, in the same manner we treat the cattle. Cattle are very important for agriculture as well as spirituality too. There was a long pending demand to ban cow slaughter for several years. It is the backbone of agriculture in the country. As per survey, during the time of independence, there were five cows per house, but today there is not even a single cow for fifty houses. As cattle are declining, there is demand to keep this culture alive.

"Though there was law to prevent cattle slaughter, it was not so stringent. Hence, there was a dire need for a stringent law to prevent cattle slaughter. As we assured the people that if our government comes to power, we will introduce a stringent version of the Anti-Cow Slaughter law, we have introduced the same," he said.

He congratulated chief minister (CM) B S Yediyurappa and minister for Animal Husbandry Prabhu Chauhan and said that the CM, understanding the feelings of farmers, has introduced this law.

Taking a dig at Congress, he further said, "Today, several people started politics of appeasement for votes. Congress is opposing the Anti-Cow Slaughter bill for appeasement. They always favoured cattle butchers. Hence, there is nothing special in their opposition. Siddaramaiah's government never made any effort to arrest those who brandished the swords and stole cattle from several houses. So we do not expect Siddaramaiah to support this bill.

"Farmers are dependent on cattle for agricultural activities. Without cattle, agricultural activities are not possible. Cattle is even required for organic farming. Animal husbandry is the backbone of the farmer. Instead of favouring farmers, they are doing politics and playing with the life of farmers," he alleged.

He also said that for two to 30 years, the Congress leaders will be on streets opposing the BJP. "Anti-Cow Slaughter Bill is not a question of any religion or sect, but a matter of life of the animal and it is done in favour of farmers. Congress should clarify the reason opposing the bill. Is it their stand against the farmers, cattle or against the culture?" he questioned.

Taking dig at Siddaramaiah, he said, "How many bills they have you introduced through ordinance, without any discussion? How many clashes have you created? For the sake of politics, he is saying so. Without forming a cabinet, Siddaramaiah, within an hour, had withdrawn the Anti-Cow Slaughter bill. Siddaramaiah is doing politics. Had he held any discussion on withdrawing the Anti-Cow Slaughter bill introduced by Yediyurappa in the past?"

He also said that the government would table the 'Love-Jihad' bill in the next session.