HUGE gathering of saints, goubhaktas, farmers, general public, renowned writers, legal luminaries, agriculture experts and members of cow progeny protection force assembled at Malleshwaram Grounds in Bengaluru shouting slogans like Vande Goumataram, Gavo Vishvasya Mataraha and Mamadeeksha Govamsha Raksha on July 20. A mammoth procession began from three different destinations simultaneously and passing through the busy streets concluded at the Grounds.
The Govamsha Raksha Rally was organised under the banner of the Federation of Organisations to Make Karnataka Free from Cow Progeny and Cattle Slaughter to request the Governor of Karnataka Shri Hansraj Bhardwaj to approve the Prevention of Cattle Slaughter & Preservation Bill, 2010, which is pending before him.
The said Bill has already been passed by both the houses of Karnataka Legislative Assembly and the Council. The Bill states that slaughter of cow, calf, bull, bullock, buffalo is completely banned in the state and there is also prohibition on sale, use and possession of beef and restriction on transport of cattle. The Bill provides an authority to police officials to search and seize cattle kept for butchering. The law provides for imprisonment from one year to seven years with a fine of Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000.
Dayananda Swami, convener of the Federation, in his inaugural speech, said Karnataka Government brought this Bill to replace the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Act, 1964 to protect the cattle wealth. Similar laws exist in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir. “The new legislation will be in accordance with the Central Act and in conformity with Article 48 of the Constitution. The Federation congratulated the Karnataka Government led by Chief Minister Shri BS Yeddyurappa for understanding and respecting the sentiments of people,” he said.
Convener of Muslim Rashtriya Munch, Shri Aniz-ul-Haq, presented a whole new perspective to cow-slaughter issue by mentioning that eating beef is not compulsory in Islam and all Mughal rulers including Babar had banned killing cows to honour the sentiments of majority Hindus. He further said that Mughal ruler Aurangzeb deviated from this rule and lost the Mughal dynasty. Cow slaughter is not allowed in Jammu & Kashmir, he said.
Speaking on the occasion Rajya Sabha MP Shri Rama Jois mentioned the Articles of the Constitution of India. “Had the previous governments banned alcohol and prevented cow-slaughter 60 years ago, now our country would have been the Rama Rajya,” he said.
Noted writer Chidananda Murthy, retired Justice Shri Venkatachalaiah, RSS leader Shri Prabhakar Bhat, Jain Muni’s, Rajya Raitha Sangh leaders and saints also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the various benefits of the cow progeny and her impact in enriching the lives of the people and the disasters of losing fertile land by using chemical fertilizers.
