Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (NP)

Udupi, Jun 9: Mushtaq Hennabail, spokesperson of Muslim Bandhavya Vedike Karnataka (R), said, "A large section of the Muslim community across the country supports the protection of cows and has been advocating a complete ban on cow slaughter and beef exports. Such a move would strengthen communal harmony and preserve the long-standing tradition of peaceful coexistence between Hindus and Muslims and the Prime Minister should declare cows as national animal." He was speaking in a press meet held at Udupi Press Club. 

Muslim Bandhavya Vedike Karnataka (R), a socio-cultural organization of Udupi-Mangaluru region, will be submitting a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi through Udupi deputy commissioner Swaroopa T K urging the central government to declare the cow as India's national animal and enact a stringent nationwide law banning cow slaughter and beef exports.

Mushtaq Hennabail further stated, “I feel that the present atmosphere in the country is favourable for introducing a comprehensive law on cow protection, as it enjoys support from both Hindu and Muslim communities. We urge the Prime Minister to fulfil this long-standing demand by implementing a uniform national policy on the issue. I have observed several inconsistencies in policies and statements relating to cow protection across various BJP-ruled states. Goa is allowed to sell and consume beef and in the last elections BJP candidate assured that if they won they would give good quality beef to the people. While there is strong advocacy for cow protection, meat export units continue to operate in some places and different policies regarding beef consumption exist in certain states. In my view, these contradictions reflect a lack of uniformity in the approach towards cow protection. 

“It is concerning that India continues to be among the world's second leading exporters of beef. All the biggest exports are in the name of Muslims but owned by Non-Muslims. I urge the Central Government to adopt stricter measures similar to those followed in neighbouring Nepal, where cow slaughter is prohibited nationwide. We would also like to draw attention to historical examples. Several Mughal rulers, including Babur, Humayun, Jahangir, Shah Jahan and Bahadur Shah Zafar, imposed restrictions on cow slaughter at different times. These examples demonstrate sensitivity towards public sentiments associated with cows and the importance of maintaining communal harmony," he said.

He also said, “We request the government to implement a 'One Nation, One Law' policy on cow protection, shut down slaughterhouses involved in cow slaughter, strengthen and support goshalas with the necessary infrastructure, and impose stringent punishment against those involved in illegal slaughter and beef export activities. We request to take immediate steps to enact a nationwide law prohibiting cow slaughter and beef exports and to declare the cow as the national animal of India."

Mushtaq Hennabail, spokesperson; Zakir Husen Uchila, president; Abdul Hafeez Qasmi; Ibrahim Nadupadav and Ibrahim Saib Kota were present in the press meet.