Karnataka: Minister's remark on revoking cow slaughter ban triggers row

The BJP on Monday staged protests against Karnataka Animal Husbandry Minister K Venkatesh’s statement that if buffaloes can be slaughtered, why not cows.

The party also condemned the Congress government in the state for increasing power tariff by Rs 2.89 per unit, which happened at a time when the government introduced Gruha Jyothi scheme offering 200 units of electricity free.

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Referring to the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, which is also known as anti-cow slaughter law, Venkatesh had said on Saturday in Mysuru that the government will revisit the law. His argument was that the previous BJP government had promulgated the law, which allowed slaughter of buffaloes.

Responding to a question on the difficulties faced by farmers in managing aged cows, the minister shared his own example where he had to get an earthmover to bury his dead cow.

The protests took place in Bengaluru, Chikkaballapura, Mysuru, Davangere and a few other parts of the state. In Mysuru, the BJP workers raised slogans against the Congress government for its decision to revisit the anti-cow slaughter law.

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They also held placards which read, “BJP demands the Congress government to continue the anti-cow slaughter law.” The protestors alleged that the Congress has conflicting policies, as on one hand it is giving free electricity while on the other it has hiked the power tariff.

(With agency inputs)