Affirming that the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Act, 2020 fails to take into account serious adverse economic, social and nutritional consequences, Dalit, Farmer and Muslim organizations in Karnataka demanded its withdrawal.
In a press meet on Tuesday, they said that “the law has led to adverse physical, social and psychological consequences for farmers, transporters, slaughterhouse workers, tannery workers, loaders/unloaders, cleaners, sanitation workers, butchers, small and large eateries, street vendors as well as a whole gamut of services associated with these.”
Referring to hate crimes and mob lynching in Karnataka in the name of cow ‘vigilantism’, they said, “instead of making all efforts to protect the vulnerable citizens, the government has instead brought a law that further victimizes the same communities and makes them economically very vulnerable while enabling lynch mobs and self-appointed vigilante groups.”
The organisations demanded that those who have been devastated by the Act be compensated at the earliest and that a statement be issued that no person attached to the cattle business will be harassed or threatened or abused for their occupation, cultural or nutritional choices.
Refuting the claim that the Act will prevent farmer suicides and will conserve the Indian breed, they said that “even in states which do not have stringent cattle slaughter bans, the indigenous cattle have thrived.”
“This law is making criminals of all of us who have been in the cattle economy for generations. We get targeted, fined and punished for doing the activity which has contributed to the thriving dairy economy of the State,” a farmer leader added.
Highlighting that the COVID pandemic and lockdown have already left Dalit, Adivasi, Muslims and other minorities in a terrible situation, they said that “the law has taken away the livelihood and essential nutrition of these communities which now face both acute and chronic hunger as well as several nutritional deficiencies along with loss of livelihoods.”
The organisations demanding withdrawal of the act include Ahara Namma Hakku-Karnataka, Dalit Sangharsha Samithi (Bheemvada) and Jamait-ul-Quraish.
The Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill was passed in the Karnataka Assembly on December 9 but the government did not table the same in the Legislative Council. The Government then chose to pass an Ordinance to bring in the law. The law puts a blanket ban on cattle slaughter, sale, and consumption, and refers to “any person exercising powers under this Act” as people acting in “good faith”, raising grave concerns over violent vigilantism. Under the law, the slaughter of cattle will lead to imprisonment of up to 3 to 7 years and a fine ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh. Subsequent offences will attract imprisonment of up to 7 years and a fine from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.
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Rushda Fathima Khan is the Staff Reporter for The Cognate.
