Won't take back ban on cow slaughter despite protests from allies: Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra will not revisit its move to ban beef. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday made it clear that his government had made the move to ban the slaughter of cows, bulls and bullocks with much thought and it won’t be taken back in spite of its ally like the Republican Party of India (RPI-A) who have been protesting publicly against the ban.

“You should understand that just because someone makes an agitation does not mean that we would change the law.”said Fadnavis when his response was sought to the RPI’s agitation.

Fadnavis got more aggressive to the argument that drought hit farmers who currently have no sources of income would have benefitted if they would have been able to sell their cows and bulls to slaughter houses. “ I will not support the argument that farmers who are affected due to drought should kill cows.”said the Chief Minister.

He added that the state would soon come up with a policy to rehabilitate cows, bulls and bullocks that have grown old and if the farmer is not able to take care of it. The Maharashtra government has already expressed its intention of making shelter houses for old cows and bulls in case the farmers are not able to take care of them.

RPI Chief Ramdas Athavale meanwhile has asked President Pranab Mukherjee to intervene in the issue of banning cow slaugther. Athavale has claimed that the ban has also effected a number of Dalits.