The Bharatiya Janta Party-led government in the Indian state of Haryana recently dismissed reports of capital punishment being met out to those found guilty of cow slaughter but said that a jail term and fine would be imposed on them.
Om Prakash Dhankar, Animal Husbandry Minister, clarified that even though capital punishment is not on the cards, his government is still was focusing on introducing the Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Bills of 2015 in the ongoing session at the State Assembly.
“Laws across the country were studied for drafting this Bill. Ours would be a more stringent law than those of most other States and would provide a provision for 10 years’ imprisonment for cow slaughter,” he said.
The minister added that the sale of beef would be banned across Haryana and vehicles used to transport cows for slaughter would be impounded as well.
“Even sale of canned beef, which was allowed by the previous Congress government, would be banned,” he said.
Quite naturally, the decision will affect the livelihoods of a number of people, who primarily depend on butchery for their sustenance, especially those living in the Muslim-dominated district of Mewat.
Speaking of the upcoming ban, Health Minister Anil Vij said the measure would help protect and preserve cows in the state.
“Since cows represent a strong identity of our ancient culture, it is the duty of every single person to protect them,” he said.
Considering there are as many as 18 lakh cows across homes, 3 lakh cows in gaushalas and an approximate 1.5 lakh cows on the stray, the state government is now identifying land to set up cattle shelters. The government also has plans of increasing Haryana’s gross milk output, which will apparently help employ those who lose their livelihoods because of the expected ban.
In his Address to the Assembly, Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki made clear the government’s intention of introducing a legislation that would protect cows. He said gaudhan (cow wealth) has been important to the Indian sentiment since ancient times.
This announcement came only days after Maharashtra banned the sale and consumption of beef by imposing a five-year jail term and hefty fine on those found guilty of cow slaughter.
Photo Credits: Travelpod
