The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Bill: Acharya defends BJP's protest plan

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Wednesday, Aug 25, 2010
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Bill: Acharya defends BJP's protest plan

Special Correspondent

V.S. Acharya

Bangalore: Home Minister V.S. Acharya on Tuesday defended the BJP's move to launch a Statewide agitation to put pressure on President Pratibha Patil to give her assent to the anti-cattle slaughter Bill by rejecting the contention of Governor H.R. Bhardwaj.

Addressing presspersons here, Dr. Acharya defended the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill, 2010, which was passed by both the Houses of the State Legislature. “Similar legislation is in place in seven other States and legislation more or less on the same lines are also in force in many States. How correct it is on the part of the Governor to create a controversy against this Bill?”

The Bill was forwarded to the President by Mr. Bhardwaj for her assent.

In a majority opinion, the Supreme Court judgment in 2005 also supported the ban on cow slaughter, he said.

Mr. Bhardwaj on Monday regretted the political campaign planned by the BJP on the issue and expressed the view that the Bill would have a bearing on the food habits of the people.

On the Governor's stand on the campaign, Dr. Acharya said the agitation was aimed at mobilising public opinion in favour of the Bill. There was a need to place the party's view before the people, he said.

The Home Minister said some of the Bills, including the Karnataka Control of Organised Crimes Bill, which were forwarded to the President are yet to get assent even though they were sent a long ago.

In this communication age, clarification, if needed, could be asked from the State Government quickly, the Minister said.

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