AMN
Republican Party of India (RPI) Chief Ramdas Athavale has threatened to launch a “Jail Bharo Andolan” in Maharashtra if the state government could not scrap the ban on slaughter of bulls and bullocks. Athavale also led a protest march to the Collector’s office in Bandra, accompanied by RPI workers and beef traders.
“Having liberty to voice an opinion and to choose what to eat and what not to eat are part of the fundamental rights provided by the Constitution.
“The ban on slaughter is unfair on the poor and farmers and therefore it should be withdrawn immediately. The RPI will hold demonstrations and a ‘Jail Bharo Andolan’ throughout the state if amendments to the Animal Welfare Act are not scrapped,” he asserted.
“We are an ally of the BJP. But that doesn’t mean we will close our eyes and let the government do injustice to the minority community. People are tired of being unemployed. They want restoration of their work. On the other hand, farmers can do nothing but watch helplessly as they are not allowed to sell old cattle to slaughter houses,” he said.
The bill banning slaughter of bulls and bullocks (in addition to the existing ban on cow slaughter) in Maharashtra, which was pending for 18 years, received the President Pranab Mukherjee’s assent in March this year. Later, it was challenged in the Bombay High Court, which ruled that the government had the powers to implement the ban.
Mr Athavale said that he would soon seek an appointment with the President to discuss the issue.