Karnataka - Belgaum   

Interference in food habits opposed

Belgaum: The district unit of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party Government of attempting to sow the seeds of communalism and hatred by meddling with Indian food culture under the pretext of protection of cows. The members the IUML opposed the Government’s move to make more stringent the provisions under the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Act, 1964.

In a memorandum sent to the Governor, copies of which were circulated among presspersons here, the district IUML president Aijaz Ahmed M. Lodhi urged the Governor to prevail upon the Government to protect the interests of the beef consuming population in the State.

He said India is a nation of diverse cultures. Different religions, languages, and personal laws are signs of its civilisation.

At present nearly 70 per cent of Indians eat beef. They belong to Schedule Castes, Muslim and Christian communities besides Bhils, Gounds, tribal people, Gorkhas, Buddhists and several other groups. He said consumption of beef has its own economic benefits. Firstly, the farmers sell their cattle once they stop yielding milk or become physically unfit to plough the fields.

The farmers sell the old cattle so that they can buy new ones to carry out their farm related work. Secondly, there are hundreds of people whose livelihood is directly or indirectly dependent on sale of beef. Thirdly, the country is earning 13 per cent of the foreign exchange by sale of products manufactured using the skin of slaughtered animals. Several thousands of people are engaged in this business. When such is the case, it is necessary to look at the issue of cow slaughter from several angles before taking a decision to introduce the proposed anti-cow slaughter Bill.

Mr. Lodhi urged all secular political parties to prevent the BJP Government from passing the proposed anti-cow slaughter Bill.

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