Life term for cow slaughter in Gujarat, Rs 5 lakh fine for beef possession

Move comes ahead of Assembly polls, is seen by many as a way to placate hardliners in the state

The Gujarat Assembly passed The Gujarat Preservation (Amendment) Bill that seeks to award life imprisonment to anyone found guilty of cow slaughter in the state. The development took place on the last day of the Budget session of the House on Friday. Gujarat thus becomes the first state in the country to make cow slaughter punishable with a life term, and political observers feel this is part of BJP's strategy to please hardliners right ahead of the Assembly elections in the state.

The Amendment Bill also has stringent provisions for punishing those who are involved in transportation and sale of beef