The Karnataka Government passed the Anti-Cow Slaughter Prevention and Protection Bill 2020, also known as the State Anti-Cow Slaughter Bill.
Anger over the sudden introduction and passage of the Bill led to war of words between the Congress and BJP members. Terming it as unconstitutional, leader of the opposition Siddaramaiah said that his party will boycott the legislative session henceforth, while the JD(S) staged a walk out.
Though the Bill passed its first hurdle in the Assembly, it needs to sail through the legislative council before it is sent to the Governor’s office for final approval.
Taking the role of the JD(S) in the Assembly, the passage of the Bill looks a little grim as the joint opposition of the Congress and the JD(S) has the upper hand in the Council. In the 75-seat assembly, the BJP has 31 senators, Congress 28, JD(S) 14, plus one Chairperson and one Independent Member.
The amended bill proposes a general ban on the slaughter of cows and the consumption, selling and transport of beef in the province.
The strictest clause of this Bill is that maximum sentence of up to seven years and a minimum of three years be given to those found to be engaged in the slaughter or smuggling, illicit transport and cruelty of cattle. In addition, the Bill has prescribed a fine which could range from Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 Lakh.
The Bill also notes that the responsible authority will be established to control the cruelty of animals, obtain complaints and grant permits for the transport of cattle.
Apart from this, the Bill seeks to establish special sessions court in all the districts to deal with cattle atrocity cases and set up ‘Gaushalas’ (cow shelters) across the state.
Expressing “dissatisfaction” over the amended Bill, the ruling BJP members, including former minister Aravind Limbvali and former Speaker K.G. Bopaiah, demanded that the provisions of cow slaughter, transportation of cow or beef and beef products must be made a non-bailable offence. “Mere stating it as a cognizable offence is not enough as these offences must be termed as non-bailable offences,” they said.
Intervening at this juncture, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J.C. Madhuswamy asserted that the members’ demands will be met while framing the rules as all provisions cannot be part of the Act.
Piloting the amendment Bill in the Assembly, Minister for Haj, Waqf and Animal Husbandry, Prabhu Chauhan, said, “Cows not only have religious significance but also economic significance in our society and it is necessary to enhance penal action to deter those involved in slaughtering cows.”
The moment the Bill was introduced, Congress MLAs led by Siddaramaiah and Janata Dal (S) legislators led by its state president H.K. Kumarswamy trooped into the well of the House in protest.
They alleged that the Bill was not discussed for tabling in the Business Advisory Committee meeting, but this charge was vehemently denied by Speaker Vishweshwara Hegde Kaageri.
Taking serious objections to the ruling BJP introducing the contentious Bill suddenly and seeking the passage of the Bill without it being mentioned in the agenda, Siddaramaiah termed it as anti-constitutional.
The Congress said that the Bill is aimed at fanning communal fears and will be misused for polarisation on communal lines to target the minorities.
On the other hand, the ruling BJP members countered it by stating that this Bill is necessary to protect the cattle which are holy to the Hindus.
The moment Chauhan tabled the Bill, BJP chief whip V. Sunil Kumar distributed saffron scarves to all the BJP members, with jubilant BJP members raising slogans supporting the Bill.
