Ban cow slaughter across India; stop beef export: U T Khader tells BJP

Mangaluru, Apr 10: Food and Civil Supplies Minister U T Khader has dared the Bharatiya Janata Party to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strictly implement cow slaughter ban across India and stop export of beef to other countries.

Speaking to media persons here on Monday, the minister said that if the BJP was really concerned about cows, let the NDA government at the Centre ban cow slaughter across the country and stop beef export. “We will also support such a move,” he added.

Mr. Khader demanded that a special team be set up to investigate the cow theft at Amrutadhara Gauhala at Kairangala in his constituency. The Congress too would support such a move. There was no need to do politics in the guise of a protest, the Minister said.

Gaushala president T.G. Rajaram Bhat, who was on fast demanding action against the cow thieves ever since the theft took place in the first week of April, is now admitted to a hospital.

The protest has been receiving support from various Sangh Parivar outfits even as Ramachandrapura Mutt seer Raghaveshwara Bharathi Swamiji too extended his support to the issue.

Responding to RSS leader Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat’s reported statement that temples visited by Mr. Khader should be purified as the latter ate beef, the Minister said that such statements do not augur well.

He was brought up in an environment where following one’s own religion was taught along with giving respect to other religions, Mr. Khader noted.