The beef ban is nothing but an assault on the rights and individual freedoms of the people of Maharashtra. The ban on beef reeks of discrimination and makes no sense at all. What will happen to all the people who cannot afford other forms of protein in their diet? Moreover, what fate awaits the cows that are being reared right now? What will happen to them when they turn old and helpless and their owners cannot look after them? Has the government thought about this and worked a way out to compensate the owners, whose businesses will suffer terribly, along with that of hundreds of others who made their living from the beef trade? Besides proteins, beef is also rich in linoleic and palmiotelic acids, which have strong anti-cancer effects and fights viruses and other pathogens that are present in the body.
The ban is a direct infringement on an individual’s personal freedom. It will also result in numerous people losing their jobs, while the businesses of many will suffer and eventually close down. The government should have thought twice about these people before imposing a ban on beef. I wonder why the president gave his assent to the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (amendment) Bill, which had been pending for approval since the last 20 years. Eating beef is a matter of dietary choice, accepted by people from all over the world. It is high time that the current Maharashtra government which is using communal hidden agenda of Hinduism stop this dirty politics which is being played upon the people.
As a matter of fact, reach religion should only follow the code of conduct for themselves and should not enforce it on others. This is the core of secularism envisaged in our constitution with special reference to personal laws. The banning of beef is only to create communal dissonance with Christians and Muslims who eat the meat to a large extent. The beef ban will also affect the leather industry and foreigners who love eating beef will now stop coming to India. It is high time the current Maharashtra government reviews this ban.
Jubel D’Cruz
