AMID protests by the BJP over a statement by Indian’s Karnataka Animal Husbandry Minister K Venkatesh indicating that the Congress government would amend the stringent cow slaughter Act passed by the previous BJP regime, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah weighed in, saying the matter was on their table.
Speaking to reporters Monday, Siddaramaiah said the Cabinet was yet to discuss the issue and there was “no decision yet”, reports The Indian Express.
However, he went on to refer to the version of the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act passed in 1964, and pointed out that it did not restrict the slaughter of cattle above 12 years, barren cows and other cows not fit for agricultural purposes.
“They (the BJP) amended it once. We reverted it to the earlier provisions. They have amended it again. We will discuss it in the Cabinet meeting,” the CM said.
The BJP held protests in parts of the state Monday against the statement made by Venkatesh last week, responding to media queries, that though the government had not taken a call on the legislation yet, they would discuss it and take a decision.
Under the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, passed in 2020, cattle were designated as “cow, calf of a cow and bull, bullock and he or she buffalo”, and their slaughter banned. The only exemptions under the Act are for buffaloes above the age of 13 and certified by a competent authority as fit for slaughter.
