Secularism has become a new kind of tool to spread intolerance and hate. If one abuses the Hindus, BJP or the RSS, one gets a brand name in the trade of secularism
Dr Yogesh Sharma
The first work, which Yogi Adityanath did after being sworn in as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh was to close down all the unauthorised slaughter houses in the State which were flourishing under the rule of Samajwadi Party. This action was promised in the election manifesto of the Bharatiya Janata Party for the Assembly elections. With this action, it is clear that the ‘Gauvansh Sanrakshan’ drive has begun. It is not only in Uttar Pradesh where the illegal slaughter houses have been banned.
In fact Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand , Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh too have banned illegal slaughter houses.
But Opposition parties are opposing this sealing drive. They have no proper logic but are worried about the Muslim vote bank because owners and
employees of all slaughter houses are Muslims. They are making an issue out of a non-issue . Through their
opposition to this in the name of loss of employment they are targeting PM Modi, CM Yogi, BJP, RSS, and Hindus. It is shocking to see the hypocrisy of supporters of beef eaters.
If Hindus are demanding a total ban on cow slaughter and sealing of slaughterhouses, there is nothing wrong in this. People’s memory is very poor. Bans are neither new nor unusual in India. Even dissections are banned in labs for educational purposes and researches. Now even earthworms, cockroaches, rats, fish, frog, monkey, etc., cannot be dissected.
Similarly, medicinal tests, pharmaceutical tests etc., on insects and animals like rats, monkeys, horses, frogs, dogs, etc., are also banned worldwide and not just in India. Education, research all have been
suffering very heavily due to this and so academicians, researchers, and
scientists are working and looking at other alternatives.
Similarly, animal shows in circuses are also banned. Even jugglers cannot keep animals like monkeys, bears or snakes. The so-called secularists never care that since the late-1990s, animal rights fighters have succeeded in
banning the long-established arts in India that expertise in training animals for shows as a means of living. There was a time when snake charmers were sent to international fairs as emissaries of India’s conventional art forms. But with the passing of Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 these shows too
were stopped.
In Kashmir Valley, all the cinema halls have been closed by the Muslim fringe groups, since the last three decades. In Bihar, CM Nitish Kumar has banned sale of liquor. Bihar has also closed all the illegal slaughterhouses. In Punjab, cigarette smoking is banned in a number of areas.
All these bans and closing was done on the demands of so-called
secularists, communists, NGOs, activists, animal lovers, right activists etc., in the name of preventing cruelty to animals or to appease the minority vote banks. But the same elements are now supporting beef eating, cow slaughtering, and illegal slaughter houses. This is hypocrisy. Perhaps this also shows that in this country it has become a fashion to hurt the sentiments of Hindus. It is a shame that secular goons have been organising open cow slaughtering and beef parties. By their behaviour, they are shaming the nation.
The closing of slaughter houses will be a big boost for rural economy. Now a large number of cows, buffaloes, goats etc. will be saved and they will be
available for farmers, villagers and poor at low prices. They can buy them and start their own business of dairy
products . In return, they will earn good money by selling their products and by using them for agriculture and commercial use.
It will also be good for the environment. In slaughterhouses, biological wastes are dumped into the earth through bore wells by the help of acid. This dumping has polluted the ground water and soil in almost all parts of the State. But now water and soil pollution will be reduced.
The production of milk and milk products will be increased and their prices will be reduced due to increased supply. Similarly, for agriculture, more compost fertiliser will be available and used. This will reduce the use of urea and chemicals which will again reduce the soil pollution. This will ensure the supply of good nutritious eatables.
With the sealing of slaughterhouses, these saved animals will eat extra crops, leaves, and paddy and wheat straws. There will be no need to burn them. This will reduce air pollution. These slaughterhouses also do not follow the health and hygiene norms, hence playing havoc with the health of the people. So the people will get rid of unhealthy and unhygienic meat.
A large number of animals that are slaughtered are stolen from villages. These thieves not only steal the animals but even kill the owners of animals who resist the theft of animals. Now there will be less crime and a large number of human lives will be saved. Some time theft and slaughtering of cows also flare up
communal riots. To some extent, communal riots will also be checked.
On this sealing drive, secular politicians, Communist, writers, artists all rushed to TV anchors and a handpicked of them appeared on TV debates in favour of slaughtering and meat eating. They even went to the extent that the meat ban violates fundamental liberties, erode state’s secular character, and harm the cause of multi-culturalism. Even some made a forecast that ban on beef eating may break the nation. Good comedy by the so called secularists!
But it is necessary to ask why our intellectual elite have never felt outraged at far more draconian bans, with far deadlier outcomes? Why the double standards! Why are all criticising Yogi Adityanath. It shouldn’t surprise anyone that out of job secularists have now got some work. Meat has united arch enemies.
In India Taslima Nasreen and Salman Rushdie are banned. Mani Ratnam and A R Rahaman are attacked because their films and songs are not liked by some maulanas. Crackers and colours on Diwali and Holi are
restricted by court directions. Courts also imposed a ban on the immersion of Hindu idols in rivers. But all
secularists are silent on these bans.
Secularism has become a new kind of tool to spread intolerance and hate. If one abuse Hindus, Modi, Yogi, BJP or RSS, one gets a brand name in the trade of secularism.
(The writer is professor of English in Delhi University)
