Minister Prabhu Chavan to visit UP, Gujarat to study anti-cow slaughter law

Bengaluru: Aimed at enacting a strong anti-cow slaughter legislation, Animal Husbandry MinisterMinister Prabhu Chavan to visit UP, Gujarat to study anti-cow slaughter law along with officials, will be travelling to Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat to study and gather information on implementation of the law there, his office said on Tuesday. The minister has already announced that the anti-cow slaughter bill will be introduced during the winter session of the State legislature starting from December 7. "Aimed at further strengthening the proposed anti-cow slaughter bill in the state, officials of the department under the leadership of Minister Prabhu Chavan will be visiting Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat from December 2 to 4," the minister's office said in a statement. Chavan in the statement has reiterated that the anti-cow slaughter bill will be tabled in the winter session and all the necessary preparations have been made for it. Noting that anti-cow slaughter Acts have been implemented in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, it said the Minister and officials will be gathering information on its implementation and management.

They will also visit 'gaushalas' (cow shelters) and try to know about the measures taken by these States for the protection of cows. Chavan had recently said that if the law is enacted, along with prohibition on slaughter, sale and use of beef and also illegal transportation of animals for slaughtering will be stopped.

The BJP in its manifesto ahead of the 2018 assembly election had promised prohibition of cow slaughter. Despite resistance from opposition, the then BJP government led by B S Yediyurappa in 2010 had passed the controversial Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill that proposed to replace the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Act, 1964. The bill had widened the definition of ''cattle'' and imposed a blanket ban on cattle slaughter, coupled with stringent penalty clauses for violation. However, the Congress government headed by Siddaramaiah that came to power in 2013, withdrew the bill that was before the President for his assent. After the BJP returned to power in the state, several party leaders have been making a pitch to re-enact the anti-cow slaughter law. PTI