‘Implement ban on cattle sacrifice effectively’

Gau Samrakshana Prakoshta of BJP has urged the state government to implement Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Act, 1964 and Prevention of Animal Sacrifices Act, 1959, effectively in the state. The Acts prohibits Qurbani (sacrifice) of cattle and other animals.

Speaking to media persons on Monday, Gau Samrakshana Prakoshta BJP Karnataka State Co-convener Vinay L Shetty said that despite the state government directing all the deputy commissioners to constitute a committee to check Qurbani in 2015, the sacrifices have taken place in different parts of the state, which is condemnable. The state government on July 21, 2018, has issued a circular to all the DCs to check animal sacrifice in the state. The district administration should initiate all precautionary measures to check qurbani of cattle.

There has been an increase in theft of cattle in Dakshina Kannada district, despite the Act in place which prohibits cow slaughter. The cattle thieves are engaged in stealing cattle from cowshed for illegal slaughtering, by threatening the owners of the houses, he said, and urged the district administration to consider the issue of cattle theft seriously and invoke Goonda Act against the miscreants who are engaged in stealing the cattle.

“Due to the illegal slaughtering of cattle and theft, there has been a decline in the cow population in the country. The small and marginal farmers who have been depending on the cow for livelihood, are hit hard,” he added.

There is a possibility of carrying out cattle sacrifice on the maidan and on the river banks, he said and urged the district administration and the police to be vigilant.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) should be constituted in each district. The SPCA should be active in the district to protect the interests of the cattle owners, and run Gau Shala if need be. For the effective implementation of the acts related to animals, the Karnataka government should constitute a committee headed by a retired judge as per the direction of the Supreme Court, he said.