Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Wednesday passed a law to ban the slaughter of all kinds of cattle in the state, except buffaloes that are aged over 13 years.
Amid ruckus, ministers of the BS Yediyurappa government, all donning saffron shawls, presented a united front while the Animal Husbandry Minister Prabhu Chavan tabled the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill. It was subsequently passed even as the Opposition Congress staged a walk out, and vowed to boycott the rest of the Assembly session, calling the sudden passage of the Bill without discussion as an affront to democracy.
The new law not only makes all kinds of cow slaughter as a cognizable offence, it also punishes it with three to seven years in prison. Additionally, a fine of Rs 50,000 per cattle head could also be levied on violators. Besides, transport of cattle within or outside the state for the purpose of slaughter is also banned.