From CK Nayak
NEW DELHI: In a complete U-turn, the BJP-led NDA government, with an eye on the forthcoming elections in three northeastern states, is all set to withdraw the controversial ban on cow slaughter and is even contemplating giving the traditional ‘Bharat Mata’ a tribal look.
The move comes after the ministry sought feedback from states on its May 23 notification on changes made to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Market) Rules, 2017, according to official sources here.
“We sent a file to the Ministry of Law earlier this week stating that we are withdrawing the notification due to several issues and will be revising it,” the official sources said.
“Portraits of Bharat Mata in traditional tribal attire will be alongside her portraits in her usual sari, especially in areas inhabited by indigenous communities. This is driven by the idea of integration,” Tripura state BJP chief Biplab Deb said. The concept will be extended to other NE states, he added.
In a letter to Shillong MP Vincent H Pala, Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change under which the ban comes, had already indicated that the ban on cow slaughter could be withdrawn.
“The matter is sub-judice following the Supreme Court’s stay order in July last year and the government has also received a number of representations on the difficulties arising from the rules and is examining them at present for change,” he had said in the letter to Pala.
The Union minister had also admitted that the ban order “is virtually infructuous” in view of the continuing stay order by the Supreme Court and also “difficulties” arising from the impractical rule for which it is considering changes.
Pala had cautioned that banning cow slaughter will create terrible food crisis in beef eating states like Meghalaya.
But the time frame for the process of withdrawing the notifications has not yet been decided, the official sources added. After the notification in May, the BJP-led NDA government came under severe criticism, especially from beef eating states like Meghalaya.
Subsequently, several instances of harassment and assault by cow vigilantes were reported from various parts of the country. Farmers in many parts of the country too opposed the move to restrict trade in markets only to animals meant for agricultural use saying they could not directly access slaughterhouses.
Farmers usually bring their redundant animals to livestock markets from where traders purchase and transport the cattle to abattoirs.
In September, Harsh Vardhan had also indicated that the Centre may lift the ban. At the time, he said the rules were a “regulatory regime” for preventing cruelty to animals and the government “did not intend to directly or indirectly affect slaughterhouses or harm farmers” or “influence the food habits of people”.
It was then that the ministry asked states to send their opinion on the notification that prohibited the sale of cattle for slaughter at animal markets. The ministry had sent two sets of letters to states – the first was soon after the Supreme Court staying the ban – reminding them to respond. It had also attached a copy of the notification and said a new draft would be framed based on feedback. The ministry also held consultations with animal rights activists and traders on the issue.
The government’s decision in May had sparked outrage, notably from states such as Kerala, West Bengal and Meghalaya on the grounds that it related to an issue under their jurisdiction.
In May-end, the Madras High Court granted an interim stay on the implementation of the rules, specifically Rule 22(b) (iii) that required a person bringing cattle for sale to the market to furnish a written declaration that it would not be sold for slaughter. In July, the Supreme Court extended the stay to the entire country.