Firoz.T.Totanawala The Bangalore Metro Reporter THE CONTROVERSIAL BILL THE CONTROVERSIAL BILL OF COW SLAUGHTER BAN AND ITS REPERCUSSIONS

FIROZ.T.TOTANAWALA

THE BANGALORE METRO REPORTER 

 THE CONTROVERSIAL BILL 

 THE CONTROVERSIAL BILL OF COW SLAUGHTER BAN AND ITS REPERCUSSIONS 

 Amidst uproar and protest by the opposition parties the controversial Bill of Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle – 2010 was passed by the Karnataka Assembly. Not only the opposition parties, but also a large section of the state’s population is against passing this Bill into a law. The Bill was passed after a four-hour-long debate and discussions held, which were mainly focusing about its repercussions, if implemented. Despite insufficient ‘yeas’, the Bill was passed by the voice vote in the lower house and further it needs the approval of the upper house, where the ruling party lacks sufficient support, to be made into a law. 

Disturbance of livelihood of many 

The well-set livelihood of many of those who are involved in the industry would be shattered. More than 2 lakh under direct employment in the industry would be thrown out of employment and their families would be left to seek other means for their survival. In all more than 12 lakh people would undergo the sufferings. Nonetheless, the eating habit of the majority of the people of Karnataka would undergo a sea change. Consumption of lamb-meat would become a rarity and the price of chicken would be beyond the reach of their affordability. 

Not a choice of the Majority 

The current Bill is brought now with the intention of effective implementation towards the prevention of Cow Slaughter and preservation of the Cattle just because the present ruling party is of the opinion that a similar Act which was passed in 1964 was not that effective at all. Besides, its act of passing the Bill is in tune with keeping up of its promises made prior to the elections. But the reality is that no one from the public forum wanted a Bill of this nature to be passed into such an Act, whereas the public in fact has shown its displeasure through various means. 

Majority are non-vegs 

The ruling party of the Karnataka State is inspired by the successful implementation of a similar Bill in Gujarat by its sister government. The reason for its success in Gujarat is due to its high proportion of majority vegetarian public, which is the highest in India (70 per cent), whereas in Karnataka the proportion is only 30 per cent, which means the Bill if implemented would stir and disturb the eating habit of the major section of the society. 

Cattle-count on the high

 Further citing the reason of diminishing of the cattle population by the ruling party is nothing but an excuse for the population has actually increased to 1.49 crore from 95 lakhs during the past 4 years, despite culling of over 20,000 economically unproductive cattle on a daily basis. It’s left to one’s imagination as to what would happen to the count of the cattle in case they are not slaughtered for consumption by the human beings, in particular and other encaged animals of the Zoos, in general. Besides, the end-user of the by-products of the cattle debris such as the pharmaceutical, leather and sugar industries would also be severely affected. 

Untimely and unwanted 

However, all the praises should go the Bharatiya Janata Party for passing the Bill, in question, which was not thought of by its predecessor and earlier governments for they were governing the state for the welfare of the public.