Gujarat  makes cow slaughter punishable with life term

The cow politics of the BJP has begun in full steam. To begin with, the slaughterhouses in Uttar Pradesh were closed down from day one of the newly instilled head priest,Adityanath government, not giving any kind of notice or time to renew the pending licences.

Following in the foot steps of U.P, nearly 5 BJP-ruled states banned illegal slaughter houses without any warning, thus hitting at the livelihood of thousands of unorganized workers employed here. By declaring them illegal overnight, these BJP- ruled states have left the fringe elements to run the day and target the minority community , employed in these houses.

First such stringent legislation in the country

On Friday, that is 31.3.17, the Gujarat assembly passed an amendment to legislation (the first in the country), to make cow slaughter an offence punishable with life term. The minimum punishment awarded will not be less than 10 years and the maximum is life imprisonment.

The Gujarat Animal Preservation (Amendment) Bill, passed by the Assembly in the absence of Opposition members who were suspended from the House on the last day of the budget session, has also made cow slaughter, transportation of cow or beef and beef products a cognisable and non-bailable offence. The bill also bans transportation of animals from one place to another at night.

Towards a vegetarian state?

“Protection of cows is the single most important principle towards saving the whole world from both moral and spiritual degradation,” said Vijay Rupani, the Chief Minister of Gujarat.

He also added that he was “not against any food”, he only wanted to make Gujarat “shakahari (vegetarian)”.

The junior Home Minister Pradipsinh Jadeja added, “Cows don’t only have a religious significance but also economic significance in our society and it is utmost necessary to enhance penal action to deter those involved in slaughtering cows and their progeny.”

Gujarat goes to elections this year end and it remains to be seen how far this communally resonant new law will go in capturing the Hindu vote.