The Uttarakhand Rajya Nirman Andolankari Samman Parishad vice chairman, Dhirendra Pratap, met Governor Aziz Qureshi and requested him to enable members of the Hindu community in Uttarakhand to continue the practice of animal sacrifice on religious occasions though this has drawn sharp criticism from animal rights activists.
According to a statement issued by Pratap, he cited the recent incident wherein people were prevented from slaughtering goats during the Nanda Devi festival at Nainital and said, “While our Muslim brethren are allowed to carry on their religious customs, the Hindus in Uttarakhand are being prevented from doing so by the authorities.”
Pratap said that he would approach chief minister Harish Rawat and if needed also sit on hunger strike outside prime minister Narendra Modi’s office in New Delhi demanding a fresh legislation on this issue.
“The Governor heard me patiently and was of the view that it was a delicate matter but he would certainly raise this issue with the higher ups. I will not leave any stone unturned and all Gandhian means would be attempted to enable the Hindus here to continue their traditions,” averred Pratap.
People for Animals Uttarakhand member secretary Gauri Maulekhi who had filed a petition in the Uttarakhand High Court against animal sacrifice in the past resulting in the HC directing a ban on animal slaughter except for human consumption in a registered slaughter house, said, “The barbaric, hideousness of public butchery is a regressive practice that has no place in Hindu culture or in Indian law. Anyone who instigates such violence or encourages illegal slaughter against the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, Municipal Corporation Act and the judgement of the Supreme Court and High Court, must be booked for abetting the offence. Himachal Pradesh too, has banned animal sacrifice following the order of the Supreme Court and Uttarakhand High Court but it is a few people who try to gain quick fame by being ridiculous. The orders of the courts and the law stand to be the same for followers of all religions,” she added.