Modi government inches closer to national beef ban with Ramzan just few days away

The Modi government has issued a new law to prevent cruelty towards cattle. It has banned sale of cattle for slaughter at animal markets. With the Muslim's holy month of Ramzan beginning from Sunday the move is seen as a step closer to a national beef ban.

As per the gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests on May 23, cattle, which also includes cow, calves, buffaloes and even camels, can now only be sold to farmers. Purchasers will also have to provide identity papers and ensure that they don't sell the cattle for 6 months.

The Animal Market Committee shall, for a period of six months from the date on which it is furnished to them, retain every declaration furnished to it, and it shall, on demand by an Inspector during that period, furnish such declaration and allow a copy of it or an extract from it to be taken.

Interestingly, the Center has powers to make rules to prevent cruelty of animals and the same has been used to make rules even livestock remains a state subject. Each state has its rules on slaughter.

The notification restricts that the purchaser of the cattle from sacrificing the animal for any religious purpose.

The Environment Ministry today defended the new law which makes restrictions only for cattle. Union Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan told media that there should be no confusion about this, center's law will provide state government with more powers to prevent cruelty against animals

"The law will regulate animal markets and through them ensure that welfare of cattle is taken care of. District animal market committee will need to ensure that the seller and buyer are not involved in any kind of slaughter. The committee will have to maintain an undertaking of this from both sides. There is no abnormality in this," he added.

Dr Harsh Vardhan said, "We are not dealing with any kind of business, our mandate is to ensure welfare of animals and we have done that. We are absolutely sure that the law is absolutely pious and there is no bias against anyone."

The minister refuted allegations that the new law will encourage 'cow vigilantes' who have been targeting cattle transporters.

BJP national president Amit Shah welcomed the move. "Several states already have a similar law," he told the media.

The government claims that copies of the said gazette were made available to the public on the January 16, 2017; and whereas objections and suggestions received from the public have been considered by the Central government.

Interestingly goat, sheep, chicken and pig have have been kept out of the ambit of the new law which is a big relief for the consumers. But with the holy month of Ramzan just days away, beef availability in the open market may take a hit.

The move is expected to hit the meat export industry. According to industry estimates 90 per cent of supplies for slaughter houses and the meat industry come from such cattle markets and the move is expected to cripple the industry. The new law is also feared to impact small farmers and dairy owners in the villages many of whom sell their cow and buffaloes in these markets.

Meanwhile, Kerala government has strongly criticized the Center's new law calling it a "fascist and anti-federal move", with agriculture minister VS Sunil Kumar saying they will not allow the government to enforce fascist policies of the RSS and other fringe outfits.

"Let it issue many such notifications, we will not follow them," he stated.

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