Cow Vigilantes : ENEMY OF HUMANITY
Supreme Court issued a notice to Centre and six states seeking their response on why self-styled ‘gau rakshak dal’ be not banned for allegedly creating disharmony among various communities and castes and indulging in mob violence. A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and A.M. Kanwilkar asked the central government and state government of Karnataka, Maharashtra Gujarat, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to file response within three weeks. The writ petition is filed by congress leader Tahseen Poonawala, senior advocate Sanjay Hegde and Shezad Poonawala appearing for petitioner.
Cattle Slaughter in India IT is a taboo, because according to Hindu beliefs, cow is considered to be sacred animal, as it provides us with life-sustaining milk. Millions of Hindus worship and revere cows. The cow is also known as symbol of wealth, strength, peace, abundance and selflessness. Hindu religion gives cow, the status of Mother to the level of goddesses. Throughout the Vedic Scriptures there are verses which give impressions that cows should be cared and protected.
Laws in favor of Cow Protection
Article 48 of Indian Constitution mandates every citizen to preserve cow and milch animals. It is the fundamental duty of every Indian Citizen to have compassion for all living creature under Article51 A(g). In regard of these articles various laws are made to prevent exploitation of animals such as -:
Ø Whoever commits mischief by killing, poisoning, maiming or rendering any animal of the value of ten rupees or upwards shall be punished with two years of imprisonment or with or both Under Section 428 of Indian Penal Code.
Ø Whoever commits mischief by killing poisoning, maiming or rendering any animal of the value of fifty rupees or upwards shall be punished with five years of imprisonment or fine or both Under Section 429 of Indian Penal Code.
Ø Animal sacrifice is illegal in every part of the country. Rule 3, Slaughterhouse Rules, 2001.
“I would not kill a human being for protection of cow, as I will not kill a cow for saving a human life, be it ever so precious” – Mahatma Gandhi
Recent Cases Recently, two hundred cow activists brutally attacked five people in Alwar who were transporting cow, among which Pehlu Khan (55) died and others got injured. Victim’s uncle told BBC “he was not a butcher but a cattle farmer and he had bought the cows for dairy business”. Khan was carrying six cattle and was returning to his home in Haryana when the mob intercepted his vehicle.
In September 2015, a Muslim man was lynched from the village near Delhi after being accused of storing beef in his fridge. Don’t Muslims have any right over a cow or its milk?
Conclusion The BJP government should take steps immediately to eradicate the increasing of cow slaughter vigilantism, if they do not want to lose next elections in the state of UP, Rajasthan and Haryana. Organizations such as ‘Gau Raksha Dal’ should not only be banned but should be prosecuted for extortion and abduction with the intent to grievous hurt and wrongful confinement. This should be State Government’s duty to take the steps, in case of violation of any forms of cattle laws. Hindu Chauvinism for cow should be curbed to eliminate crime.