CN Ashwath Narayan, Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka in an interview to a media house said, "Earlier, life was at risk for vigilantes... not those who were in the (cattle) trade," as a response to concerns that the state's new anti-cow slaughter bill will protect and encourage the 'Gau Rakshaks'.
Amidst protests in the assembly, on Wednesday, Karnataka's BJP government had passed the stringent Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill, 2020.
In Karnataka state, cow slaughter is banned since the 1960s.
As per the new bill the meaning of "cattle" will include bulls and buffaloes under 13 years of age and has fixed severe punishment for people involved in any kind of cattle slaughter. Section 17 of the bill protects from legal action for "persons acting in good faith".
Mr Narayan said that the bill was framed with keeping the cow vigilantes in mind but it is not clear if section 17 can apply to them. He said, "Vigilantes or anyone who is working for a cause and the law of the land should have a scope to work in this provision.”
According to a data, there have been 115 incidents of cattle-related mob violence in India since 2015, due to which 46 people lost their lives and 146 were injured, none of these was among the vigilante attackers.
But according to Mr Narayan said, "In Karnataka, it is only the cow vigilantes who have lost their lives".
The deputy CM maintained his stance that in Karnataka, it is the vigilantes who were putting themselves at great risk. "People in the (cattle) trade were completely armed. They were taking lives and killing people. It is not the vigilantes”, he said, denying the claims of the data.
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According to the statement of objects and reasons in the bill, the state government wants to ensure the "preservation and improvement of breeds of cattle" and "organisation of agriculture and animal husbandry". However, Mr Narayan has cited the cultural importance of the cow in India.
He added, "We need to protect and promote our culture. That is the main reason for us to... come out with a law. Not with any agenda. We are already in power.”