India: Rapid Cow Protection Force

11-07-2002, 11:45 AM

Panel wants Rapid Cow Protection Force
Basharat Peer in New Delhi
Uncared and unhealthy cows are a common sight on Indian roads. No
eyebrows go up when they feed on garbage and leftovers, despite being
considered sacred by the majority of the population.

Home to 200 million cows, India has banned their killing everywhere
except Kerala and some northeastern states.

The passion that a "sacred cow" evokes was visible a few weeks back
in Jhajjar town of Haryana, where five people were lynched for
allegedly skinning one alive.

In August 2001, the Centre established a National Commission for
Cattle to suggest ways of improving the condition of cattle,
especially cows. It was formed by an order of the Prime Minister's
Office after the Shankaracharya of Kanchi, Jayendra Saraswati, went
on an indefinite fast to press for total prohibition of cow
slaughter.

"We recommended inclusion of the prohibition of slaughter of cow and
its progeny in fundamental rights. We have also argued that a Rapid
Cow Protection Force on the lines of other paramilitary forces be
instituted, which can operate on an all India basis for prevention of
cow slaughter," Gumman Mal Lodha, who chaired the commission, told
rediff.com

The commission's report said those who slaughter cows or smuggle them
to Bangladesh, Kerala and illegal slaughterhouses should be booked
under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

It recommended a ban on crossbreeding involving imported cattle like
Jersey. Indigenous breeds should be encouraged and import of cattle
prohibited, it said.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad support
the recommendations, which are being considered by the Ministry of
Agriculture.

"The holy cow is not just of religious value; it also has economic
importance in India. It is the backbone of the Indian economy. Apart
from milk products, the urine of the cow is of great medicinal
importance," said Giriraj Kishore, international vice-president of
the VHP.

The cow is at the "centre of religious faith", he said, adding that
Hindu scriptures equate cow slaughter with murder of human beings.

"In our neighbouring Nepal, even today cow slaughter is punishable
with death. It is unfortunate that despite the recommendations of the
cattle commission, the ban is not being imposed and implemented
strictly in India," he told rediff.com

Lodha went a step further: "For centuries it [cow] has been
worshipped in Indian culture as a mother. It is revered, respected
and should be made the national animal [in place of tiger]," he said.

Kishore said, "Cow is already the real national animal. Such is its
importance that even the Allahabad high court has ruled that, wrongly
or rightly, Hindu consider the cow sacred and its slaughter can have
serious repercussions."

But many people believe that making cow slaughter illegal would just
move the industry underground, resulting in more cruelty towards the
animal.

The recommendations also worry the leather industry, which is worth
$4 billion and employs thousands of people.

Many retailers like Gap, Donna Karan, and Timberland refuse to buy
Indian leather because of protests by animal rights groups against
the ill treatment of cattle in India and their brutal killing in
slaughterhouses.

"There are times when orders get cancelled. Various high-profile
stores in Europe have stopped dealing with us. That hurts us
financially," said C M Khurana, a Delhi-based leather exporter.

There are others who believe that the leather industry would be on
the brink of disaster if the government accepts the recommendations
of the commission.

"Things are not bad at the moment. But if the government agrees with
the commission's proposals, the leather industry will be affected
badly," said exporter Ravi Khanna.