NC moves bill in JK Assembly to decriminalise cow slaughter

Opposition National Conference has moved a bill in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly here for the upcoming session seeking to decriminalise slaughter of cows and sale and consumption of beef in the state.
Several senior party leaders, led by general secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar, submitted the bill in the Assembly Secretariat yesterday, a spokesman of the National Conference said today.
On September 10, The Jammu and Kashmir High Court had ordered state police to ensure strict implementation of a law banning the sale of beef.
The NC spokesman said the bill, seeking omission of sections 298-A, 298-B, 298-C and 298-D of the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), was moved in view of the recent order by a division bench of High Court in Jammu seeking strict implementation of the beef ban.

Sagar said the existing law banning sale of beef was in complete violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed to the citizens under the constitution.
"The state can neither force any person to follow a particular line nor can government interfere in anybody's religion. We have sought amendment in the law for revoking the ban," he said.
He said the NC has already asked the PDP-BJP government to bring in an ordinance ahead of Eid al-Adha this month to amend the relevant sections of the penal code so that people are not arrested and harassed while performing the ritual Eid sacrifices in the state.

"But, it has become very evident that PDP has surrendered its voice for the lure of remaining in power. NC is very serious about this issue and this is very important to the people of this state. We will bring in the bill in the Legislative Assembly," the NC General Secretary said.