No Ban on Cow Slaughter, Says BJP’s Meghalaya Vice-President

Lyngdoh said people have misinterpreted the rules.

(Photo: iStock)

In poll-bound Meghalaya, the BJP said that the Centre has not put any blanket ban on cow slaughter.

According to a report by The Times of India, BJP’s state vice-president in Meghalaya, JA Lyngdoh, said the rules don’t, at any point, ban cow slaughter. Refuting Congress’s claims upon the subject, he said the central government’s May notification on cattle slaughter “only regulates” animal markets.

Lyngdoh told The Times of India:

Though the rules do not say it, the justification for them can perhaps be traced to the direction of the Supreme Court, which passed an order to frame guidelines to prevent animals from being smuggled out of India for the Gadhimai Festival held in Nepal.

The Supreme Court had in July asked the Environment Ministry to frame rules under Section 38 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

Lyngdoh said the rules have been misinterpreted as some sort of nation-wide ban on cow slaughter.

This comes a few days after Meghalaya CM Mukul Sangma, in Delhi, said the Centre’s notification should be withdrawn.

Sangma on Monday said his state will not see a repetition of Manipur and Goa, states where the BJP assumed power this year.

Politicians are lining up along with BJP because they think that maybe something which has happened in Manipur and Goa would be repeated there. It is not going to happen in Meghalaya.

Also Read: Meghalaya Govt Passes Resolution Against Cattle Slaughter Ban

Sangma also referred to the Meghalaya Assembly unanimously passing a resolution in June opposing the Centre's notification banning the sale and purchase of cattle at animal markets for slaughter and demanding its withdrawal as it would "impact the economy of the state and the food habits of its people".

They are infringing upon the way of life and the culture of the people. So, what soft corner the people of Meghalaya will have for BJP?

Mukul Sangma

(With inputs from IANS)

Also Read: SC Upholds Stay on Cattle Slaughter Rules – What Happens Next?