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Uttarakhand bans cow slaughter

Assembly passes bill amid uproar

Dehra Dun: Amid uproarious scenes, the Uttarakhand Assembly on Tuesday passed a bill banning cow slaughter in the hill State.

Under the bill, the slaughter of the cow in Uttarakhand would be an offence punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may be extended up to 10 years but not less than three years and a fine which may be extended up to Rs 10,000 but not less than Rs 5,000.

When the Uttarakhand Protection of Cow Progeny Bill, 2007 was tabled, opposition Congress members protested the move and trooped into the well of the House.

However, the bill was declared passed by the Chair amid pandemonium with the ruling BJP and Uttarakhand Kranti Dal members raising their hands in support.

The Act states that a penalty would be imposed on anyone found selling beef or possessing it.

The measure also prohibits persons to free cows for wandering after milching. It envisages the State Government and NGOs to establish institutions necessary for taking care of uneconomic cow progeny.

Tabling the bill, Animal Husbandry Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said the new bill was being brought in the context of the needs of Uttarakhand as well as the protection of cow and its progeny.

In its election manifesto early this year, the BJP had promised to bring a measure to ban cow slaughter in the State.

Meanwhile, the Congress expressed doubts over the bill saying the “BJP government was fulfilling the RSS agenda”.

“BJP is being driven by communal RSS agenda. But the party’s efforts over the protection of cow have completely failed in states like Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh,” Congress spokesman Surendra Kumar said.

As soon as the House assembled in the morning, opposition Congress MLAs on Tuesday created uproarious scenes in the Assembly leading to repeated adjournments of the House following a woman activist of the ruling BJP alleging that a saffron party leader has molested her.

Congress members led by leader of the opposition Harak Singh Rawat were on their feet demanding immediate discussion on the alleged sexual assault by the BJP leader. Later, they were joined by BSP members and the agitated members trooped into the well seeking discussion.

Mr. Rawat said the woman leader has alleged that a senior BJP leader not only barged into her house here when she was alone but also allegedly molested her.

Speaker Harbans Kapoor tried to pacify the agitated opposition members saying that he would allow the issue to be taken up after completion of Question Hour. But, as the slogan shouting continued, he adjourned the House till 11:15 a.m.

Similar scenes were witnessed when the House gathered at 11:15 a.m., forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House again till 11:45 a.m.

Later, the House was adjourned twice till 12:00 p.m. and 12:20 p.m. on the issue. PTI

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Uttarakhand bans cow slaughter

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