Karnataka BJP Says Banning Cow Slaughter Will be Their First Bill

BJP leaders made the statement while addressing a rally in Udupi. 

(Photo: The Quint)

Banning cow slaughter makes a return to the BJP’s list of priorities ahead of 2018 Karnataka Assembly elections. KS Eshwarappa, the leader of Opposition in the Karnataka legislative council, said that prohibition of cow slaughter will be the first government decision if the BJP comes to power in Karnataka.

He was addressing a public rally during the Karnataka Suraksha Yatra, in coastal Karnataka’s Udupi district, on Monday, 5 March.

“Siddaramaiah has cancelled the anti-cow slaughter bill and allowed cow slaughter to continue. In the land of lord Krishna, I promise that when the BJP will come to power, the first bill we will pass will be the prohibition of cow slaughter,” said Eshwarappa.

BJP’s leader of Opposition in Karnataka legislative council KS Eshwarappa addressing the rally in Udupi. (Photo: The Quint)

Eshwarappa further added that this was not a poll promise but a matter of belief. “Cow is our mother and we will not tolerate her slaughter,” he added.

The senior BJP leaders have been conducting Karnataka Suraksha Yatra for past two days in districts of coastal Karnataka, to protest attacks on right-wing workers. The rally in Udupi district was flagged off by Union minister Maneka Gandhi and the march was led by BJP leaders Shobha Karandlaje and KS Eshwarappa.

‘Hindu Youths Framed in Gauri Lankesh Murder’

Senior BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje said Hindu youths are being framed in Gauri Lankesh murder case. (Photo: The Quint)

While addressing the gathering, Shobha Karandlaje said that Hindu youths are being framed in the Gauri Lankesh murder case. “The government has not been able to catch the killers of Professor Kalburgi. Now the government, with an eye on election, are framing Hindu youth in the Gauri Lankesh murder case,” she said.

The statement comes in the context of the SIT taking the custody of gun runner and founder of Hindu Yuva Sene on 2 March. However, the SIT officers had categorically stated that he was not booked for the murder and added that he was being questioned as he was in possession of ammunition similar to what was used to kill Gauri Lankesh.

The Karnataka Suraksha Yatra will culminate in Mangaluru on 6 March and the rally will be addressed by UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

The Congress party responded by tweeting a video of Shobha stating BJP workers are rapists, when she was with the Karnataka Janata Party (KJP), started by BJP’s BS Yeddyurappa, asking her if her views had changed.