Bill to curb illegal cow transport to be introduced in coming assembly session.
Maldharis decided to postpone by one month their statewide agitation for their demands, including harsh punishment to those involved in cow slaughter, after receiving assurances from Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi at a meeting on Saturday. A 30-member delegation met the chief minister on Saturday to discuss their demands. During the discussions which lasted two hours, Modi told the delegation about the state government's firm stand against illegal cow slaughter in Gujarat.
"The CM requested us to give him one month to decide on their other demands as they involved legal formalities and, hence, required consultation with experts," said Nagji Desai, a prominent Maldhari leader.
Desai said that Modi had assured them that a bill will be introduced in the next assembly session which will curb illegal cow transport and slaughter. In the draft bill, the state government has proposed a 7-year jail term for people convicted of transporting and killing cows illegally, and permanent seizure of their vehicles.
As demanded by the Maldharis, the new bill also proposes to make the offence non-bailable or at least difficult for offenders to get bail.
"He said that the bill will be passed in the assembly session which begins on September 28. For other demands, the CM asked for one month time, to which we all agreed," said Desai.
While talking to the Maldharis, Modi assured them that the state government is determined to enforce the ban on cow slaughter in the state. Regarding their other demands such as ban on sale or transfer of all grazing land and release of such land to Maldharis for their cattle, Modi told them that he needs time to study the whole issue, Desai said. "We agreed to give him one month time," he added.
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