Karnataka Act Banning Cattle Slaughter Intended to Break Muslims Economically, Says Report

The Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, 2020 is a part of the agenda of the BJP government to target the Muslim community economically and bring them to destitution while simultaneously emboldening Hindutva supporters to resort to mob violence against cattle farmers and traders, a report released by Ahara Namma Hakku (Our Food Our Right) collective notes.

The report says that since the Act, the ban on cattle slaughter has affected the livelihood of farmers, cattle traders, butchers, vendors and consumers and also dealt a debilitating blow to the livestock, leather and meat economy of Karnataka.

It underlined the Act should be seen in the backdrop of politics around beef by the current BJP government at the Centre and State which is aimed at targeting minorities economically, socially and politically.

The new Act prohibits the transport, sale, export, purchase or disposal of these cattle for the purpose of slaughter within and outside the state. Authorities can now conduct search and seizure operations, including of vehicles, just based on suspicion. Anybody found violating the law could face penalties and punishments includes imprisonment of not less than 3 years and up to 7 years on conviction, with fines of not less than Rs. 50,000 and up to Rs. 10 lakhs.

The report raises the concern that the new act will embolden Hindutva groups to resort to cattle vigilantism targeting, primarily of Muslim traders and transporters. “That those affected have no recourse to judicial oversight.”

Despite several incidents of communal violence in Karnataka, the state has brought a law that further victimizes the targeted communities instead of making efforts to protect them. The report asserts the Act is essentially anti-Muslim in intent and implementation with no thought has been given to scientific scrutiny. “The act is seen as particularly vicious because of the steep nature of the punishment as well as how it enables violence, even homicide, by cattle vigilantes,” says the report.

The report notes that the Act aims to further decimate the Muslim, OBC and Dalit communities which are largely dependent on the livestock sector. 

The report gives data of 2018-19 which says the total estimated value of livestock products in Karnataka was INR 49834.6 crores, of which milk contributed 59.8%, meat 14.97% and dung contributed 16.75%.

Several rights groups and trade unions have raised serious concerns over the Act including  Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS), Beef merchants association, Jamaat-e-Islami, Karnataka Minority Rights Forum, Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (DSS-Bheemvada), Hide and Skin Curing Units, Slaughterhouses, Eateries, cattle market officials and traders as well as consumers of bovine meat. 

The report asserts that the concerns of these groups need to be amplified and the government should take cognizance and address them by repealing the Act. 

The report has found a drop in the business by cattle traders which in turn affects farmers. “Farmers, who now have to take care of their unproductive cattle are unable to buy more productive cattle, and not able to meet many of their agriculture and household expenses,” it says. 

All these affect the ability of farmers to get a good price for their unproductive cattle and replace them with younger, more productive cattle, which may in all likelihood lead to drop in milk production. A drop in milk production is not only a threat to the farmers’ income but also a threat to the nutritional security of the state, the report says. 

The report urged the government to take cognizance of the enormous damage to livelihoods, nutrition and mental health that the “poorly thought out” Act and demanded the revocation of the Act in its current form.