Will hang cow killers, says Raman; Owaisi slams BJP's hypocrisy

We will hang those who kill cows," Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh declared on Saturday, a day after BJP-ruled Gujarat passed a more stringent law making cow slaughter punishable with life term.

"Does such a thing happen in Chhattisgarh? I don't think it has happened in the last 15 years (of BJP rule). If it happens, we will hang those who dare do it (Marega to latka denge)," Singh told reporters in Jagdalpur rpt Jagdalpur.

He was responding to queries by journalists whether his government would, like Yogi Adityanath's in UP, take a tough stand on cow slaughter.

Slaughter of cow, buffalo, bull, bullock, calf, and possession of their meat is banned in Chhattisgarh. Transport, export to other states for slaughter is alsobanned. These offences attract same punishment of 7 years jail and fine up to Rs 50,000.

The Gujarat Animal Preservation (Amendment) Bill was approved by the Legislative Assembly yesterday, providing for life imprisonment for cow slaughter, the first in the country.

The bill also has a provision for ten-year imprisonment for transportation, storage or sale of beef. Cow slaughter is already banned in Gujarat.

Meanwhile, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi accused the BJP of "hypocrisy" over beef ban after the saffron party said it would not be extended to the northeastern states.

"In UP, cow is mummy, and in the northeastern states it's yummy. This shows BJP's hypocrisy. While they are talking about beef ban in UP, they have said there would be no such thing in the northeast.

"Assembly elections are going to be held in three states in the northeast. Beef is easily available in (BJP-ruled) Goa.

You tell me what is this," he told a TV news channel.

Reacting to the Hyderabad MP's remarks, BJP Rajya Sabha member Subramanian Swamy said," What's this mummy, yummy thing. Owaisi says he has faith in the Indian Constitution.

"Article 48 of the Constitution says cow slaughter will be prohibited. Let him say he has no faith in some articles of the Constitution, then we will see," he said. Agencies