New Delhi: In a public meeting on Monday, former Karnataka Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, Siddaramaiah reignited the beef ban controversy in Tumakuru district by saying beefeaters don't belong to just one community. "Who are you to tell me to not consume beef?" Siddaramaiah questioned the government.
"Beefeaters don't belong to just one community, even Hindus consume beef, and Christians consume it as well. Once I said in the Assembly, who are you to tell me to not consume beef?" News agency ANI said, quoting former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, in his address to the public in Tumakuru on Monday.
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Beef ban in Karnataka
The contentious anti-cattle slaughter law came into effect in January 2021 in Karnataka. The Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill, 2020 imposes a blanket ban on the slaughter of cattle in the state. This law makes it illegal to buy, sell and slaughter and trade all types of cattle including cows, bulls, buffaloes and oxen. Buffaloes above the age of 13 years and terminally ill cattle are barred from the bill.
People violating this law can be imprisoned for up to seven years and they can be penalised up to Rs 10 lakh from Rs 50,000 based on the severity of the offence.
Even though the ruling BJP government in Karnataka has succeeded in implementing the poll promise, the government made ahead of the 2019 assembly elections, the ban on cattle slaughter has left a section of people in severe distress.
In a year, since the law was enacted over 500 people have been booked in Karnataka, according to Karnataka Animal Husbandry Minister Prabhu Chavan, said The print report.