A regressive and dangerous trend

The Karnataka government’s intention to ban beef in the state is a regressive move. Government doesn’t have any business to decide what anyone eat or shouldn’t eat. They would do well to focus on issues of hygiene standards, spurious ingredients and so on. Beef is part of diet of many people, it is a source of cheap protein in many families. Further stray cattle lead to overgrazing and therefore detrimental to ecology. This law is discriminatory, and communal in it’s intend. The basis of ban itself is questionable, invoking Hinduism doesn’t hold much logic. Cows are revered animals in many rural homes is beyond doubt and have special place in the hearts of many Indians (frankly most Indians in small villages tend to love all animals around…I recall having specific names for each hen!!. In cities though these are broilers, the disconnect is astounding). It is more of utilitarian tradition that has acquired religious connotations Even if it is mentioned in religious texts or there are strictures against doesn’t make it a case for ban since it intrudes into rights of other communities. Many East Asian societies eat dogs, which is considered repulsive by West. Are dog meat banned in West?. Adjustments will have to be made in multicultural and multi religious societies. What should be part of diet is individual choice provided these don’t harm the environment or damage the ecology as also the issues of animal rights of being treated with dignity (this blogger is immensely happy to hear that bull fighting-the medieval disgust, is now banned in most part of Europe). Despite dire threats on survival of whales the Japanese haven’t really stopped whaling, it is regrettable that some people give more significance to their palette than prudence. People of Japan should be ashamed of themselves. Apart from habitat threat Indian tigers and rhinoceros are severely endangered by demands of traditional medicines in China. There is also the issue of increasing productivity that leads to diseases like BSE (that cause CJD), indeed WHO has pointed to certain hot spot region-like east Asia (includes Sars, swine flue so on) where news dangerous virus could incubate into highly contagious.

This blogger strongly feels that butcher shops need to follow strict hygiene standards and social rules, exposed meat shouldn’t be allowed as also the way these are transported should be humane. Laws on these matters should take into consideration sensibilities of vegetarians (who are in majority)