Subramanian Swamy brings bill seeking death penalty for cow slaughter

NEW DELHI: BJP MP Subramanian Swamy introduced at Rajya Sabha on Friday a Private Members’ Bill, which seeks protection of cows and deterrent punishment, including a death penalty against those found guilty of slaughtering the animal.

Swamy introduced The Cow Protection Bill, 2017 on Friday. The Bill, which will come up for discussion and passage later, is aimed at creating an authority to ensure “stabilisation of population of cows” and to suggest measures to comply with Articles 37 and 48 of the Constitution.

The Bill provides for a ban on slaughter of cows and seeks to “provide for deterrent punishment, including the death penalty for slaughter of cows” and related issues.

Swamy told reporters that he is moving the Bill to create an understanding among people that cow is a prized possession and it should be protected. The Bill comes at a time when the Adityanath Yogi-led BJP government in Uttar Pradesh has begun a drive to close down unlicensed mechanised abbatoirs throughout the state.

Some slaughter houses were also burnt down in Hathras district earlier this week, allegedly by cow vigilantes, who suspected that these places were being used for slaughtering cows.