Kolkata, May 17 -- CPI(M) state secretary Mohammed Salim on Sunday warned the newly elected BJP government in West Bengal against pursuing "bulldozer raj" and vigilante action in the name of cow protection, saying people had voted against the previous regime because of the absence of the rule of law.
Salim said the state was already witnessing coercive actions in the name of cow protection and urged the new government not to follow a path that could damage communal harmony and social balance. "The people's verdict against the previous government was largely because there was no rule of law. The new government should not go down the same road," he said.
With Bakri Eid approaching, he said cattle traders, transporters and livestock rearers across communities were anxious over recent restrictions linked to the cattle trade and slaughter.
He claimed that a state government notification relating to animal slaughter had halted trading in several small cattle markets, affecting cattle rearers and traders. "Beef is not consumed only by Muslims. Adivasis and Scheduled Caste communities also consume meat," he said. The CPI(M) leader also pointed to India's position as the world's second-largest meat exporter and accused the Centre of double standards on the issue.
"Indian beef is openly sold in Arab countries visited by the Prime Minister.
The Centre now wants India to become number one in meat exports," he said.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.