Bangalore: Anti-Cow Slaughter Bill Passed Amid Vehement Protest
Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)
Bangalore, Jul 16: Even as the Congress and JDS members vehemently protested against it, Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill 2010 was passed with a voice vote in the legislative council amidst bedlam. Opposition leaders have termed this as the most dreadful bill ever to have been passed by the legislature in the state.
The bill had got the approval of the assembly on March 19 this year. It bans slaughter of bovine animals like cows, oxen, buffalo, she buffalos, etc and puts restrictions on the possession, usage, transportation and disposal of cattle. Leader of the opposition, Motamma, declared that a statewide agitation will be launched against the bill, which now awaits approval of the Governor before becoming an act. She said that the bill proposes to snatch away the right to food of the poor people, and that her party will soon decide on the modes of protest to be undertaken. JDS MLC, Abdul Azeem, accused the government of passing this bill because of its anti-minority stance and with the specific intention of denying the minorities their right to food.
The state Governor normally gives his assent for the bills that are passed by both houses of the legislature. However, taking into consideration the fact that the state Governor H R Bhardwaj is in loggerheads with the government on various issues, and also taking cue from his earlier statement that he has reservations about the contents of the proposed anti-slaughter act, it would be interesting to await further developments.