The controversial anti-cow slaughter bill was passed in the Karnataka Assembly on Wednesday, with the Congress members staging a walkout in protest. The bill known as the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill-2020 seeks a total ban on the slaughter of cows in the state and stringent punishment to those who indulge in smuggling, illegal transportation, atrocities on cows and slaughtering them, BJP sources said.Yes, the bill has been passed in the Assembly," Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J C Madhuswamy told PTI.Besides cows and calves, the bill also intends to protect buffaloes and their calves less than 12 years of age.
There is a provision to set up special courts for the speedy trial of the accused people.It also makes provision for setting up Goshala or cattle-sheds for the protection of livestock. Police have been given powers to conduct checking.The law also gives protection to those who protect these livestock.The bill was passed without any discussion as there was din in the House.The Congress later staged a walkout in protest.Earlier, when Animal Husbandry Minister Prabhu Chavan tabled the bill in the evening, Congress MLAs led by leader of the opposition Siddaramaiah trooped into the well of the House.They alleged the bill was not discussed for tabling in the Business Advisory Committee meeting."We had discussed yesterday that new bills will not be tabled.We had agreed that only the ordinances will be passed.Now he (Prabhu Chavan) has all-of-a-sudden introduced this anti-cow slaughter bill," Siddaramaiah said.The Congress has expressed fears that the bill, if passed, may be misused for polarisation on communal lines and target the minorities.On the other hand, the BJP has been saying the bill is to protect the cows which are holy to the Hindus.