Jalandhar: Stating that the menace of stray cattle has reached an alarming position, the Dal Khalsa wants ban on cow slaughter to be lifted in Punjab “strictly for economic reasons and to solve stray cattle problem”. In fact, the organisation is in favour of setting up cow slaughter houses in the state.
Party leaders Harpal Singh Cheema and spokesman Kanwar Pal Singh in a statement said the issue of cow slaughtering was dear to Hindu hearts. Hence, they would like to clear at the outset that their demand had nothing to do with religion or its beliefs.
Harpal Singh Cheema (L), Kanwar Pal Singh (R) [File Photo]
They said the cow slaughtering was banned in most of parts of India, including Punjab. Since, it is a state subject, we urge Amarinder Singh government to rethink on the issue and lift ban on it. To drive their point home, they added that already in nine states there was no ban on cow slaughter, while in two other states it was partially imposed.
Giving details of their demand, they said lifting ban on cow slaughter would go a long way in the uplift of farmers, struggling to repay loans. It would also check suicides among farmers.
They added that the farmers already had the infrastructure and could keep cows without spending additional money.
“It would fetch good rates. As of now, the farmers were abandoning their cattle at lonely places”, they said.
“Moreover, stray cattle were resulting in road accidents taking a heavy toll of human lives”. Every day, there are deaths on roads due to rising number of stray cattle and government utterly failing to control it.
Clarifying that their intention was not to hurt the religious sentiments of any community, the leaders said the move would boost beef export, besides promoting leather and pharmaceutical industry in the region.
They said “now-days only those cows are taken care of who yield milk. Dry cows and calves are poorly fed, abandoned and allowed to die in pitiable conditions”.
They slammed the government for imposing cow-cess on people and took exception over the silence of Kisan Unions on this vital issue concerning farmers.