Bangalore, Aug 24 (IANS) The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka will go ahead with its planned state-wide agitation to press for an early presidential nod to the anti-cow slaughter bill despite Governor H.R. Bhardwaj’s displeasure over it.
The state legislature passed the bill to ban cattle slaughter amidst opposition from political parties, various Dalit organizations and noted writers who said the measure was against certain sections of the society and their eating habits.
Bhardwaj, taking note of these objections, forwarded the bill to the president to decide whether to approve the bill or nor.
The BJP has announced a state-wide agitation from Sep 1 to mount pressure on President Pratibha Patil for early assent to the bill. The ruling party plans demonstrations in all the 224 assembly segments in the state till Sep 5.
The agitation will culminate Sep 6 with Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa and state BJP President K.S. Eshwarappa leading a day-long ‘dharna’ (sit-in) of party workers in Bangalore.
Bhardwaj had told reporters Monday in Chamarajnagar, about 200 km from here, that the issue was being politicised.
‘The BJP is indulging in politics in the name of cow. It is trying to divide the society,’ he said.
Reacting to Bhardwaj’s comments, Yeddyurappa told reporters here Tuesday that he was ‘pained’ by it.
But Home Minister V.S. Acharya stoutly defended the agitation plan, saying: ‘In a democracy, every party has a right to conduct programmes to educate people.’
He told reporters the agitation was to mobilize public opinion.
‘We need to tell people our views. Otherwise, they will think we have done something which was not in our power to do.’
Acharya said the legislation banning cow slaughter was in place in several states and wondered why a fuss was being created in Karnataka.
‘Is it appropriate to create a furore against this bill,’ he asked.
Yeddyurappa led a party delegation to Patil, urging her for early consent to the bill.
Opposing it, Congress and Janata Dal-Secular delegations also met Patil demanding she reject the bill.
Writers led by Jnanpith awardee U.R. Ananthamurthy have strongly opposed the bill.
