BJP government in Karnataka is reportedly set to introduce a bill against cow slaughter during the upcoming legislative session.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Dr CN Ashwath Narayan has said that the state government is in process of bringing bills against 'love jihad' and cow slaughter.
"Many states have already brought in the bills. We are also in the process of bringing bills against 'love jihad' and to impose a ban on cow slaughter," Ashwath Narayan told ANI.
The issue of 'love jihad' has been on the boil for the past few weeks after the death of a 21-year-old college student, who was shot point-blank outside her college allegedly by a stalker and his friend in Ballabgarh in October.
Recently, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel had promulgated the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance 2020 to deal with religious conversion for the sake of marriage, which provides for imprisonment of up to 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 50,000 under different categories.
Earlier on Thursday, state Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai had said, "Love jihad" is a coinage used by right-wing activists to refer to the alleged campaign of Muslims forcing Hindu girls to convert in the guise of love…when Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh governments started mulling over it (a law), we too started thinking about it- how to do it, how to ensure that there was pressure or force involved (in conversion)- it is the main thing," reported PTI.
This came after UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Cabinet on November 24 cleared the Ordinance, proposing a maximum punishment of 10 years for 'love jihad' related offences.
Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also proposed to bring laws to curb "forced religious conversions".
BJP government in Karnataka is reportedly set to introduce a bill against cow slaughter during the upcoming legislative session. Earlier, the issue was discussed at a cabinet meeting held in Bengaluru.
Opposition leader Siddaramaiah said Congress will oppose the bill.
At present, the Karnataka Prevention of Cow Slaughter and Cattle Preservation Act, 1964 is in force in the state. It permits the slaughter of non-milch cows and diseased cattle over 12 years of age.
It is worth noting here that Uttar Pradesh has one of the most stringent anti-cow slaughter laws in place. According to this law, a person can get maximum rigorous imprisonment of 10 years and a fine up to Rs 5 lakh.
"For the first offence, a person can be given a rigorous punishment of one to seven years with a fine ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 3 lakh. For the second offence, the person can be given 10-year rigorous imprisonment with a fine up to Rs 5 lakh," Uttar Pradesh law states.
The BJP in its manifesto ahead of the 2018 assembly election had promised prohibition of cow slaughter. The same was reiterated in the recently held party's state executive meeting in Mangaluru in Karnataka.
(With agency inputs)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Karnataka Deputy CM Ashwath Narayan")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}