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No other domestic animal has got so much respect in our hearts than cow - the sacred, loving creature for all humanity. India’s Constitution, in its Part-IV (Directive Principles of State Policy) directs as under:
"48. Organisation of agriculture and animal husbandry.—The State shall endeavour to organise agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines and shall, in particular, take steps for preserving and improving the breeds, and prohibiting the slaughter, of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle."
Despite this directive and public outcry, several agitations on the issue, there is still no Central legislation for complete ban on cow slaughter. Though majority of states have banned cow slaughter, it is continuing in West Bengal and Kerala where Communists are in power (Communists say they have no belief in religion). Cow slaughter is also a common feature in Mewat region (Muslim dominated) of Haryana and similar areas in UP, Bihar and the North East. The butchers in these areas damn care for the laws in force.
State-wise legislations for banning cow-slaughter are of little use. From Rajasthan and Haryana, traders easily manage to smuggle the livestock to West Bengal’s slaughter houses, across UP and Bihar – even to Pakistan and Bangladesh.
India is among the few fortunate countries having sizeable number of domestic cattle. In our neighborhood (Pakistan and Bangladesh) milk has become a scarce commodity due to meat-eating habits of their population and animal sacrifice on Muslim festival, Eid. In India too, the depleting number of cows may soon cause scarcity of milk, if the present scenario continues.
Should there be a Central legislation to ban cow slaughter? This is a pertinent question despite the fact that now-a-days, for several reasons, cows are being ignored and buffalos are preferred by dairy-owners and villagers.
Let us discuss. Who stops to formulate a Central legislation? Even the Constitution gives a clear-cut directive for a complete ban on cow-slaughter. It is not just a religious or sentimental issue but there are vital economic aspects too.
.
No other domestic animal has got so much respect in our hearts than cow - the sacred, loving creature for all humanity. India’s Constitution, in its Part-IV (Directive Principles of State Policy) directs as under:
"48. Organisation of agriculture and animal husbandry.—The State shall endeavour to organise agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines and shall, in particular, take steps for preserving and improving the breeds, and prohibiting the slaughter, of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle."
Despite this directive and public outcry, several agitations on the issue, there is still no Central legislation for complete ban on cow slaughter. Though majority of states have banned cow slaughter, it is continuing in West Bengal and Kerala where Communists are in power (Communists say they have no belief in religion). Cow slaughter is also a common feature in Mewat region (Muslim dominated) of Haryana and similar areas in UP, Bihar and the North East. The butchers in these areas damn care for the laws in force.
State-wise legislations for banning cow-slaughter are of little use. From Rajasthan and Haryana, traders easily manage to smuggle the livestock to West Bengal’s slaughter houses, across UP and Bihar – even to Pakistan and Bangladesh.
India is among the few fortunate countries having sizeable number of domestic cattle. In our neighborhood (Pakistan and Bangladesh) milk has become a scarce commodity due to meat-eating habits of their population and animal sacrifice on Muslim festival, Eid. In India too, the depleting number of cows may soon cause scarcity of milk, if the present scenario continues.
Should there be a Central legislation to ban cow slaughter? This is a pertinent question despite the fact that now-a-days, for several reasons, cows are being ignored and buffalos are preferred by dairy-owners and villagers.
Let us discuss. Who stops to formulate a Central legislation? Even the Constitution gives a clear-cut directive for a complete ban on cow-slaughter. It is not just a religious or sentimental issue but there are vital economic aspects too.
.
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