Kolkata: Newly elected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Rekha Patra has ignited a political controversy after she was seen intercepting a vehicle carrying cattle in Hingalganj and allegedly suggesting that those transporting cows should produce a 'birth certificate'. The incident has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, particularly the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
Patra's Statement on Cattle Transportation
Speaking about the alleged illegal transportation of cattle, Patra said, 'Our government has issued a guideline stating that cattle below 14 years of age cannot be slaughtered. If anyone tries to take them away illegally, we must catch them immediately.' Her remarks were interpreted as a demand for proof of age for the animals, akin to a birth certificate.
Opposition Reaction
The comments were later shared by TMC Member of Parliament (MP) Mahua Moitra, who criticized the BJP legislator. Moitra wrote on social media, 'Newly elected BJP MLA in Bengal insists on birth certificates for bovines to prove they are of age. Parivartan.' This post quickly went viral, fueling the debate over the state's cattle slaughter laws.
Legal Framework on Cow Slaughter in West Bengal
Last week, the state government issued a public notice citing a 1950 Bengal law and a 2018 Calcutta High Court order, reiterating that cow slaughter without valid certification is banned. The notice states, 'No person shall slaughter any animal thereby meaning (bulls, bullocks, cows, calves, male and female buffaloes, buffalo calves and castrated buffaloes) unless he has obtained in respect thereof a certificate that the animal is fit for slaughter.'
Certification Process
The order further specifies that certification must be jointly issued by municipal or panchayat authorities along with a government veterinary surgeon, based on the animal's age, health, and fitness. Appeals against refusal of certificates can be filed within a fortnight. The government has also cited the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act, 1950, warning that violations could lead to up to six months' imprisonment or a fine of Rs 1,000, or both.
The controversy highlights the ongoing tensions between the ruling TMC and the opposition BJP over the implementation of cattle protection laws in the state. While the BJP has accused the TMC of not enforcing the ban strictly, the TMC has countered by pointing out the absurdity of demanding a birth certificate for animals.
