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Mamata has no "mamata" either for animals or Modi
New Delhi: The new ordinance seeking to amend the old animal cruelty act has come in for a lot of stick by the opposition, particularly by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and and Kerala chief minister P. Vijayan. The opposition has a right to criticise the government and no one can deny this right to it. But it is also its duty to present facts as they are and not mislead the people by distorting them.
The fact, as far as this ordinance is concerned, is that it has not banned animal slaughter. It has only put restrictions and sought to regulate trade. And they have been put largely due to smuggling of animals to Nepal and Bangladesh with which the country has a porous border.
Animal trafficking into these two countries was on the rise and it was one of the reasons for promulgation of the ordinance, an official who doled out figures explained . As many as 1.2 animals were seized on the border in the year 2013 which jumped to 1.4 lakhs in first six months of 2016. Cows formed majority in the seizure list.
The opposition has also made much of the time of promulgation-- on the eve of Ramzan. It has conveniently forgotten that a draft ordinance was circulated in January itself for public opinion which was four months before the start of month of fasting.
There are a few things more which likes of Mamata have not paid heed to. One of them is that the government has abided by a Supreme Court in this connection. The apex body had asked the government to find ways to check smuggling in response to a petition. It had been given three moths time for it but somehow the time schedule was not met.
To enlighten the likes of her further, a parliamentary committee headed by the then home minister P. Chidambaram had also expressed concern over the animal trafficking. In its report submitted in July last ( during Modi rule) the committee believed that there was a " deeply entrenched" nexus between some groups in these two countries and this and it was due to it that this menace has " proliferated".
The rules were framed under the Act to regulate the livestock market. Neither did they ask to change the food habit nor were they designed to put a blanket ban on slaughter.
Yes, it was a mistake to include buffalo in the restriction list. Only cow slaughter was banned previously. But a government spokesman has already clarified that it was ready to make changes if found necessary. Cow slaughter was banned by most of the states many years ago on their own. They can very well apply the new rules. Only restriction has been put on some others.
Some non-political critics have feared that it will badly affect the cycle of dairy farmers who sell the animals when they are non-productive to buy others who are. They too have not properly seen the fineprint. The ordinance does not put any ban on the cattle fair either.
Instead of crying hoarse over it , the best alternative for the opposition is to discuss with the government the changes it proposes to be made. The government should accept its good suggestions. This way they can work in tandem for the good of the people and the country.
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