Karnataka To Table Bills Against Cow Slaughter And ‘Love Jihad’ In The Legislative Session Starting Today

Karnataka government is all set to table the bill against cow slaughter in the state during its legislative session that started today (7 December).

The proposed ban was a part of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) election manifesto, and the party state core committee that met last week in Belagavi had resolved to recommend the ban on cow slaughter in this session.

The session is expected to see heated discussions as along with the bill against cow slaughter, the party is also planning to introduce a bill banning ‘love jihad’ or marriages with the intent of forced religious conversions, in the state.

Yediyurappa had during his earlier stint as chief minister seen through the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Protection Bill 2010 and an amendment to it — the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Preservation Bill 2010. This bill prohibited the slaughter of cows, calf of a cow and bull, bullock, buffalo male or female and calf of a she-buffalo.

Only if the animal was over 15 years of age, permission for legal slaughter was given. The state had then sent it for assent to the President but didn't receive the same.

When the Congress government came to power in the state in 2013, the state legislature withdrew the bill restoring the original Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Act, 1964.

Siddaramaiah, the former chief minister of the state who had vociferously opposed the bill while in opposition restored it to its 1964 version excluding buffaloes and buffalo bulls from its definition.