Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (DV)
Udupi, Dec 12: Minister of state for animal husbandary Prabhu Chauhan on Sunday December 12 said that the BJP-led union government is committed to protect 'Gau Mata' (cow) and is contemplating a steep increase in penalty under Anti-Cow Slaughter Act.
He was speaking after inaugurating a state-level conference of local dairy farmers, agriculturists and cow products manufacturers at Udupi Krishna Math here.
"We have implemented the anti-cow slaughter bill after discussing it with Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath. The law was implemented after conducting several studies. But a few filed PIL against the law in the court. We are cent percent certain that the verdict of the court will come in our favour. Anti-Cow Slaughter Bill will be completely implemented," he added.
"More than 10,000 cattle were protected after the implementation of the new Act and more than 600 cases have been registered. Police and home department are cooperating well. Earlier, the fine was Rs 1,000 but in future, the fine will be Rs 50,000 to Rs 10 lac for violating the Act. Once the verdict comes in our favour, we will see how cattle slaughter takes place. If the fine amount is increased who will slaughter cows?" the minister said.
"In the present Act, there is provision for seven years of jail for offenders. We will provide a full-fledged ambulance to all taluks. and we have opened an animal helpline center as well. In the last three months, we have received 30,000 complaints. We will start Gaushalas in each district. Gaushalas will be set up in 50 to 100 acres of land, and they will begin functioning in 25 districts after the Belagavi session," he said.
Govt expecting to pass anti-conversion bill: MLA Raghupati Bhat
Meanwhile, Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat on Sunday said that BJP government is expecting to table and pass the contentious anti-religious conversion bill in the winter session of the state assembly, which is set to begin from Monday December 13 in Belagavi.
Speaking to reporters, Bhat said, "We are expecting the implementation of anti-conversion law. If the bill is passed, it will be a historic session. We have noticed cases of conversion reported in Mangaluru and Udupi region.
"There is an immediate need for enforcing anti-conversion law. We are confident that the bill will be passed," he added.
On Congress' decision to oppose the bill, he said, "Congress is opposing the bill for the purpose of vote bank politics. Congress has been doing this for the past many years. Stopping religious conversion is a national issue. Hence, Congress is opposing this. Congress even opposed the anti-cow slaughter bill. We have majority, we will pass the bill.