TIA Correspondent / AMN
SHILLONG: In a major shift from party policy, the BJP national general secretary and former RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav on Wednesday said that the BJP-led NDA Government did not intend to ban cow slaughter in the North East region.
Talking to journalists here Ram Madhav said ban on cow slaughter has been in place since long in many states but the Union government was not proposing to ban cow slaughter in the North East due to the demographic situation.
Some states have banned cow slaughter based on certain socio-economic factors, he said, adding that the centre would review the same and take appropriate action.
Asked about the alleged Ghar Wapsi (forced conversion) programme by hardcore Hindu wings, he said, “India is a country of a numbers of religions and pluralism exists in its heart.”
“The government will ensure that every religion and community lives in peace, safety and security,” he said. On the prospects of the BJP in the Northeastern region, he said that the party was becoming stronger in the region.
Asserting that the BJP and the Government was focused on development of the region, he said that the party will support the government’s initiatives to strengthen the economy of the region by creating avenues for better connection with the neighbouring countries.
On the ‘beef party’ protest organised in the city against the visit of BJP national president Amit Shah, he said, “Anybody can protest in a democratic country but their reasons for protest is misplaced. BJP is committed to unity and integrity of the country.”
Meanwhile three regional parties in the State – UDP, HSPDP and KHNAM – voiced their concern on issue of ban on cow slaughter in separate meetings with BJP national president Amit Shah here on Wednesday.
Objecting to the purported ban on cow slaughter, the UDP said that people of the North East would neither accept any such imposition on their food habits nor tolerate any breach of the Constitutional provisions.
“Your government is trying to circumvent not only the Constitution of the country, but also the age-old practice followed by many Indians, the several judicial pronouncements including the Supreme Court order on ban on cow slaughter, one of the most famous being the ‘Hasmatullah versus State of Madhya Pradesh (AIR 1996 SC 2076)’ wherein it had stated that banning of cow slaughter ‘has imposed an unreasonable restriction on the Fundamental Right under Article 19 of the Constitution,” the UDP stated in a memorandum submitted to the BJP president.