‘Freedom Eroded’: Parties Slam Ban On Cattle Sale For Slaughter

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan asked whether the Centre would ban consumption of fish next.

BJP had promised banning of slaughterhouses before the 2017 UP Assembly polls. Photo used for representational purpose. (Photo: iStock)

Various bodies and political parties reacted sharply to the government's decision to ban the sale and purchase of cattle from animal markets for slaughter, saying it is an "ill advised" decision which will widen the "terrorism" by cow vigilantes.

The All India Meat and Livestock Exporters Association claimed the government's decision will eventually hit the farmers.

The high-yielding milching animals rarely arrive at the cattle market for sale. The per day cost incurred on a buffalo ranges from Rs 125 to Rs 150, while the general price of the milk sold is Rs 40 per litre. If the per day milk production dips, then gradually the cattle becomes unproductive

Fauzan Alav, Spokesperson, All India Meat and Livestock Exporters Association

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Several leaders including Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Congress leader Shashi Tharoor hit out at the Centre for the move.

Pinarayi Vijayan said on Friday that if the Centre has banned the slaughter of cattle today, they will ban the consumption of fish tomorrow.

Instead of restraining the Sangh Parivar from assaulting those who transport cattle, the Centre has now entirely banned the slaughter of cattle. This makes it clear who holds therein of power at the Centre. Till now, the Sangh Parivar was attacking people in the name of killing cows. Now they have banned the killing of bulls and buffaloes, too. Crores of people in this country need to slaughter these animals for their food. By imposing a ban, the Centre has interfered in their right to food.

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan wrote on Facebook

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An official statement from CPI also termed the decision as "most unwise" and alleged that it was taken by the RSS.

In a statement, party general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy alleged that the move marks the inception of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat converting the country into a Hindu Rashtra.

This will be totally unacceptable to crores and crores of people in the country. Forcible vegetarianism will do no good to the nation.

S Sudhakar Reddy, General Secretary, CPI

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‘Tokenistic’ Politics

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad, however, termed fresh restrictions on sale of cattle as mere "tokenism" which will not address the issue of cow slaughter.

They also urged the Modi government at the Centre to introduce a stringent law whereby killing of a cow or its progeny was made punishable with imprisonment for life "in every part of the country".

The fresh restrictions imposed by the Union Environment Ministry call for undertakings to be given by buyers and sellers of cattle that the animals would not be slaughtered.This is, however, mere tokenism and will not address the issue of cow slaughter.

Pravin Togadia, International Working President, VHP

Togadia said cows are held sacred by millions of Hindus world over. Yet, they are killed with impunity even in those parts of the country where cow slaughter is officially banned, he lamented.

The issue is killing, and not just sale, of cows. Hence, the Centre must bring a law at the earliest that completely bans slaughter of cow and its progeny in every part of the country. Violation of the law should be made punishable with imprisonment for life.

Pravin Togadia

(With PTI inputs)