West Bengal BJP govt tightens cattle slaughter regulations ahead of Eid al-Adha
West Bengal BJP govt tightens cattle slaughter regulations ahead of Eid al-Adha
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The newly elected BJP government in West Bengal has issued a notification strictly enforcing the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act, 1950, and related court directives, Muslim Mirror reported.
On Wednesday, the Home and Hill Affairs Department notified that no person shall slaughter cows, bulls, bullocks, calves, buffaloes, or buffalo calves without a mandatory fitness certificate.
Slaughter is permitted solely in municipal or designated slaughterhouses; public or open-place slaughter is explicitly banned. Violations carry penalties of up to six months’ imprisonment, a fine of Rs 1,000, or both.
The government describes the move as enforcement of long-existing law and a 2018 Calcutta High Court order, alongside broader efforts to curb illegal cattle markets, unregulated slaughterhouses, and cross-border smuggling, especially in border districts like Malda, Murshidabad, and the 24 Parganas.
The timing, weeks ahead of Eid al-Adha (Bakrid), has sparked debate. Critics view it as potentially impacting traditional Qurbani practices and Muslim butchers and traders, accusing the government of pursuing a Hindutva agenda through “bulldozer politics.” Supporters welcome it as animal welfare and cultural preservation measure aligned with Hindu sentiments on cow protection.
