Assembly passes anti-cow slaughter bill amid Congress walkout

Bengaluru: The controversial anti-cow slaughter bill was passed in the Karnataka Assembly on Wednesday, with the Congress members staging a walkout in protest The Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill-2020 seeks a total ban on the slaughter of cows, calves and bullocks in the State and stringent punishment to those who indulge in smuggling, illegal transportation, atrocities on cows and slaughtering them. Animal Husbandry Minister Prabhu Bhamla Chavan tabled the Bill in the Legislative Assembly.

It further imposes a ban on the beef consumption. However, one of the most controversial parts of the Bill says "there shall be no case, prosecution or other legal proceedings against the competent authority or person for any action initiated in good faith under the Act".

It proposes to give power to police to search and seize the cattle merely on suspicion that they are being transported to slaughter houses. The penalty for slaughter ranges between Rs 50,000 and Rs 10 lakh and could also attract an imprisonment for 3-7 years. The cattle confiscated by the government agencies will be shifted to cow shelters established by the State.

BJP National General Secretary CT Ravi said, "We are on our way to fulfil our commitment to protect cows."

The love jihad bill will not be tabled in the current winter session of Assembly.

"Yes, the bill has been passed in the Assembly," Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J C Madhuswamy said. Besides cows and calves, the bill also intends to protect buffaloes and their calves less than 12 years of age. There is a provision to set up special courts for the speedy trial of the accused people. It also makes provision for setting up goshala or cattle-sheds for the protection of livestock. Police have been given powers to conduct checking. The law also gives protection to those who protect these livestock. The bill was passed without any discussion as there was din in the House. The Congress later staged a walkout in protest.

Earlier, when Animal Husbandry Minister Prabhu Chavan tabled the bill in the evening, Congress MLAs led by leader of the opposition Siddaramaiah trooped into the well of the House. They alleged the bill was not discussed for tabling in the Business Advisory Committee meeting. "We had discussed yesterday that new bills will not be tabled. We had agreed that only the ordinances will be passed. Now he (Prabhu Chavan) has all of a sudden introduced this anti-cow slaughter bill," Siddaramaiah said.

However, Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri said he had clearly said in the meeting that important bills will be tabled on Wednesday and Thursday. Not convinced with the reply, the Congress MLAs trooped into the well of the House and raised slogans against the BJP government. The Congress has expressed fears that the bill, if passed, may be misused for polarisation on communal lines and target minorities. On the other hand, the BJP has been saying the bill is to protect the cows which are holy to the Hindus. To make the provisions of the proposed law stringent, Chavan had referred to similar laws in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. A team of officials led by Chavan had recently visited Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, where the law has been enacted, to study its implementation.