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Cow A Poll Gimmick: RELISHING RELIGION IN POLITICAL DISH, By Poonam Kaushish, 10 Oct, 2015 Print E-mail

Political Diary

New Delhi, 10 October 2015

Cow A Poll Gimmick

RELISHING RELIGION IN POLITICAL DISH

By Poonam Kaushish

 

“Gau mata” is once again becoming a convenient political tool for our Hindutva brigade. They are back to their favourite pass time: Minority bashing and protection of the cow. And have re-discovered the holy cow’s brand equity as the best vote-catcher at a time when the mirror of secularism has cracked and communal hatred activated by various Parties in their pursuit of political nirvana. Each defining secularism according to its warped needs and obfuscating Hinduism as the oldest living civilisation with political Hinduism.

 

It all started last month with two BJP-ruled States Gujarat and Maharashtra raising the ante against eating beef and cows should be respected as a mother. Mumbai suspended meat sale and shut slaughter houses for four days in deference to the Jain’s Paryushan festival during which the community shuns all root vegetables. The J&K Government followed suit.

 

But all hell broke lose last week when a Muslim was lynched to death post a rumour that his family had eaten and stored beef in their refrigerator. Leading to an endless spiral of vicious verbal bashing and counter-wallops on cow slaughter and beef eating. Making it incumbent on President Mukherjee to cool temperatures by reiterating India's core values of tolerance and plurality, even as Home Ministry put the onus on the State Government. Indeed, food for thought!

 

In the ensuing maelstrom, trust our netagan to make “Gau mata” the cause célèbre for milking in the ensuing Bihar election. While BJP promised a ban on cow slaughter, the Congress reminded all its Governments had banned it in 24 States including Bihar and was game for a national ban. Underscoring once again there is no sacred cow when it comes to garnering votes and settling political scores. Whereby the revered bovine suddenly transformers into a political Kamdhenu!

 

Of course, no neta wants to get his teeth into an individual’s food preferences but it doesn’t stop them talking a lot of bull and relishing naked cow-trading. Thus, we have a wacky hodgepodge of cattle laws according to leaders’ political appetite. While some States have banned cow slaughter, others allow killing of old or sick cattle, several kill, ban or no ban and not a few require a “fit for slaughter” certificate.

 

Either which way, this doublespeak about revering your cow and eating beef too is not about the fate of the holy cow but accentuates a cynical food-fight sells and how! Saffron-robed Ministers, netas, swamis and mullahs are recklessly playing the communal card. Politicising Hinduism to tailor to their ambitious needs and electoral gains where one man’s opium is another man’s poison.

 

The BJP continues to play its Hindutva card wrapped in development that brought it power at the Centre and in several States. The Congress is now trying to reposition itself to match the BJP’s Hindu plank for future electoral battles.

 

In Maharashtra, its Government has extended the Cow Slaughter Ban Act to bulls and bullocks, which has evoked criticism. In Kashmir the cow slaughter ban and consumption of beef has brought about a divide between the ruling PDP-BJP, with the former saying prohibition cannot be accepted and the latter insisting on strict implementation. In Kerala beef was taken off the menu as trucks carrying cattle were attacked by rightwing activists.

 

Notably, cow protection has been a live political issue over the years. It was hotly debated by our founding fathers in the Constituent Assembly leading to cow protection being included as a Directive Principle of State policy. While Article 48 reads: “The State shall endeavour to organise agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines and shall, in particular, take steps for preserving and improving the breeds and prohibiting the slaughter of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle”.

 

However, the Directive Principle does not provide for a total nationwide legislative ban on cow slaughter, which the Hindu fundamentalists have been demanding for long. Several agitations have taken place since 1966 when Parliament was sought to be gheraoed, resulting in police firing and deaths.

 

As many as ten Private Member’s Bills have been tabled in the Lok between 1985 and 2006. In 1979 the Janata Government tabled an official Bill and Indira Gandhi wrote to States to enforce a ban. Two National Commissions studied the issue. But there is no Central Act.

 

Pertinently, Modi’s NDA is toying with the idea of a Central law, obviously under pressure from the Sangh Parivar for who cow like Ayodhya are sacrosanct leading to attacks on Muslims and their fundamentalism. Little realising that beef eaters are not limited to Muslims; Christians and tribals in several parts of the country also consume beef.

 

Dr Karan Singh, an authority on Hindu philosophy points out that prosperous Muslims eat mutton, while the poor buy buffalo meat. Beef is a staple diet in North-eastern States. Former Lok Sabha Speaker Sangma from Meghalaya feels a national ban on cow slaughter would create a crisis in the North-east.  Ditto in the South too where about 90 per cent Dalits and backwards among Hindus, besides Muslims and Christians eat beef. Consequentially, a national ban on sale of beef would not be a political issue but an economic and social problem.

 

True, the Gau Mata is sacred to the Hindus, who worship it. Every bit of the cow is said to be useful. Even its urine has miraculous medicinal value. But, there is a sharp distinction between beef and buffalo meat.  Most of the beef being sold and exported is of buffalos and unproductive old cows which are abandoned.

Besides, a ban on slaughter, eating and serving of certain types of animals and their meat is not uncommon across the globe. All Muslim-ruled countries have banned pork which, incidentally, is a lot more popular in India’s North-east than beef. Contrary to popular belief, beef is not so popular in Pakistan. Only the poor or very poor eat cow’s meat called ‘Burra gosht’, which is cheaper.  Importantly, no one in the Arab World has starved because of a ban on the eating of pork.

 

Clearly, the cow-beef debate marks a dangerous political trend of intolerance towards minorities and mob violence. If this trend goes unchecked society will get dangerously fragmented. With politics and polls only on their agenda, the polity must desist from playing with fire and instigate their vote bank. Alongside, both communities have to learn to cohabit together and the BJP must rein in its ‘fringe’ elements who feel emboldened with a majority Government at the Centre.

 

In the final analysis, any anti-cow slaughter legislation should neither be made a political issue or religious plank for power. Our leaders need to remember India was conceived as a democratic rather than majoritarian country wherein minorities have certain basic rights. This is the essence of being secular. It is about tolerating differences and not beating it to a pulp with a meaty bone.

 

Let us not reduce the cow to a poll gimmick. Time now to consider a ban on divisive politics. Remember, everyone, not just the cow drum beaters and beef-eaters have a st(e)ake in India. ----INFA

 

(Copyright, India News and  Feature Alliance)

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