BANGALORE: A day after chief minister Siddaramaiah announced that the Karnataka Prevention of cow slaughter and Preservation (Amendment) Bill, 2012 passed in the state legislature during the BJP rule would be reversed; the BJP has threatened to protest against the move.
Former chief minister Jagadish Shettar before attending BJLP meeting on Tuesday at party office said the BJP will stage state-wide protest if the act is reversed. Soon after taking oath as chief minister on Monday, Siddaramaiah said his government will go back to the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Prevention Act, 1964 and withdraw the bill amended last year.
As opposition party, Congress had opposed the bill and even petitioned the governor against giving his consent. By amending the 1964 act, the BJP had enlarged the definition of cattle, made punishment harsher and increased the age of animal to be slaughtered. Siddaramaiah had argued that it affected beef eaters and people involved in activities such as transportation of cattle, leather industry and meat packaging industry. Though passed by the state legislature, the act is yet to get President’s assent.
