Bill will provoke religious animosity: Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru: Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah said that the cow slaughter ban which the BJP led government is trying to bring is not only mischievous and unscientific but also anti-farmer. He stated that the ban will provoke religious animosity but the government wants to draw political mileage out of it.

"If the BJP government genuinely cares about livestock, it should conduct a socio-economic study, gather public opinion on its report and then formulate an anti-cow slaughter ban. If the BJP has so much concern, it should implement a law that applies to the entire country, including Goa, Kerala and the Northeast," Siddaramaiah added.

The former CM said that the government should buy the unproductive livestock and bear the cost of raising them.

Siddaramaiah said that the ban on cow slaughter has been around since 1964 when the law allowed the slaughter of unproductive cows and the State government has only been trying to bring the Act to cover its administrative failure.

"Farmers sell their livestock in case there is a drought situation when it becomes difficult for them to provide food for livestock. If the new law does not allow it, there would be conflict," the former CM said.