Cow politics or the strategic use of emotive cow protection issue by political parties could influence the outcome of high-octane battle of ballot in Punjab, scheduled to be held on February 4. With Punjab witnessing a triangular electoral contest this time, all political parties have been pushing “cow protection” plank in the State which leads in supplying high-yielding milk cows in the country.
The issues, including cow slaughter, ire of cow vigilante groups, menace of stray cattle and impact on inter-state bovine sale, are seen as a major deciding factor for the electorate, who are somehow connected to cattle industry in Punjab.
Be it the cow breeders, gau sevaks or cow vigilantes, these voters will also play a significant role in deciding the fate of political parties in the Assembly polls.
It is trouble time for BJP’s alliance partner, SAD, in Punjab as the holy cow is divine for the opposition parties, Aam Aadmi Party and Congress too, in polls.
The inter-state bovine sale, which is an estimated Rs2,500 crore industry in Punjab and also considered as the backbone of State’s agriculture has been affected badly due to stringent cattle protection laws that curbed the movement of cows to other States last year.
With the saffron party pushing for strict implementation of cow-related laws and random acts of violence by cow vigilante groups which have been mushroomed in the State, the past one-and-a-half year has remained a tough time for the cow breeders, who are now up in arms against the ruling SAD-BJP combine and siding with the Opposition parties.
“Due to the fear of cow vigilante groups who have become active after the formation of BJP-led Central Government, the dairy industry, where the main income comes from selling cross-bred cows, faced huge losses. This all happened due to the failure of SAD-BJP Government in Punjab,” said Rajpal Singh, general secretary, Punjab Progressive Dairy Farmers Association (regd.).
There is a huge demand for Punjab’s high milk yielding cows in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and some other States. But, the price of high milk yielding cows such as Holstein Friesian (HF) had last year come down by around Rs30,000 per cattle head due to restrictions imposed on transportation of cows following ban on beef and slaughtering of cows by certain States.
“The farmers faced huge losses as buyers refused to enter Punjab fearing attacks from cow vigilantes and tedious paper work and permission from the State authorities for transportation of animals to other States. While rules had been there since past many years but after the formation of Narendra Modi Government at the Centre, these gau rakshaks started using the pretext of protecting cows to extort money,” said Rajpal while talking to The Pioneer.
While condemning the ruling SAD-BJP alliance for failing to take timely action against the cow vigilantes, Rajpal said, “Now, the dairy farmers have expectations from Aam Aadmi Party as the party has come out with a separate manifesto for farmers and have also announced initiatives for dairy farmers.”
Romesh Gupta, president, Punjab Gaushala Mahasangh (regd) while talking to The Pioneer said, “Akalis had announced some good initiatives for the gaushalas but most of them remained on papers. On the other hand, BJP did nothing except giving a slogan Desh dharm ka nata hai gau hamari mata hai (Cow is related to us through our religion and nation as mother)”.
Punjab Gaushala Mahasangh is the representative body of more than 400 gaushalas in Punjab.
Gupta said that cow protection has become an election issue and all political parties have made promises for welfare of cows and dairy farmers in their manifesto.
“But as far as support is concerned, youth are favouring AAP, while elderly voters still feel that Akalis will do something for the welfare of gaushalas and bovine species,” he added.
In the past one year, the self styled cow protectors have made headlines after being captured on video insulting and beating men accused of involving in cow slaughter in various parts of the country.
Satish Kumar, chief Gau Raksha Dal was arrested last year and had made headlines after stating that he was proud to be known as the country's biggest goon. After being arrested on the charges of extortion, sodomy and kidnapping, Satish had justified his unlawful methods by accusing the State authorities of ignoring the issue of cow slaughtering and trafficking in Punjab.
State Gau Raksha Dal has, however, come out in support of Akalis and Congress candidates in the fray in Punjab.
Punjab Gau Raksha Dal president, Nixon Kumar said, “We are supporting Akali candidates at some places and also lending support to many Congress candidates in Punjab polls.”
Terming AAP as an outsider in Punjab, Nixon said that some SAD and Congress leaders have worked in their constituencies for the protection of cattle in the past few years. BJP, on the other hand, has only used the cow protection issue as a political tool and did nothing, said he.
He added that the cow slaughter still happens in Punjab and we hope that the new Government would bring in a strict law to stop cow slaughter in the State.
Earlier this month, as many as 17 carcasses of cow were found dumped in Bilaspur village in Moga district. The discovery of the carcasses had also led to protests by cow protection groups.
The SAD-BJP had announced to set up a cow memorial, after carcasses of slaughtered cows were found near a factory in Mansa district of the State a few years ago.