Karnataka Government has decided to disband the Goseva Ayog which was introduced by the previous BJP Government.
As the nation is divided over the issue of beef eating, the Karnataka Government has decided to undo the appointments made to Goseva Ayog during the previous BJP Government. The Siddaramaiah Government has abolished the Cattle Conservation Commission (Goseva Ayog) and merged it with the Karnataka unit of the Animal Welfare Board (AWB).
The previous BJP Government had introduced Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill (2010) and subsequently established the 16-member commission for protecting the cattle being taken to slaughter houses and attaching them to the nearest Goshala. Despite opposition from a section of the society, the BJP Government had also allocated Rs 2 crore for the commission's activities.
However, on October 7, Minister for Animal Husbandry TB Jayachandra said the Cabinet decided to disband the commission, following several reports and experts’ opinion.
The cabinet also ratified the Belagavi session’s decision to repeal the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Prevention (Constitution of Goseva Ayoga) rules, 2012.
The Siddaramaiah Government’s move to disband the Goseva Ayog is snowballing into a major controversy. The BJP, which had previously established the Cattle Commission, has now openly accused the Congress of indulging in hate politics and polarising the society on the lines of eating habits. Karnataka cabinet had abolished the Cattle Conservation Commission (Goseva Ayog) and merged it with the Karnataka unit of the Animal Welfare Board (AWB).
Criticising this, BJP's state SC/ST Morcha general secretary Dr Chi Na Ramu said Congress government's only motive was to appease Muslims and provoke Hindus. “It seems as if the State is taking a lead in promoting cow slaughter without realising the fact that 24 out 29 states have opposed it. Animal Husbandry Minister TB Jayachandra had said that they were forced to disband the Ayog as it was inactive. Now, I wonder whether the government realised this after a gap of two and a half years. This is a clear indication as to who is inactive; Goseva Ayog or State Government.”
“The Government's media advisor Dinesh Ameen Mattu is openly promoting beef eating in public. Now, one wonders whether he is media advisor or beef eating advisor. I respect the sentiment that everyone’s eating habits need to be respected. However, doesn’t this mean that the majority Hindus’ sentiments also need to be respected? I request the state to immediately withdraw its order on Goseva Ayog failing which BJP will be forced to intensify protest,” he added. Defending the Goseva Ayog, Dr Chi Na Ramu said that the only mission of the Ayog was to preserve the indigenous breed which was on the verge of extinction. There was a great demand for desi cattle beef and a number of illegal slaughter houses had mushroomed all over the state.
—Guruprasad, Bengaluru
