Karnataka govt will promulgate anti-cow slaughter ordinance: CM Yediyurappa
Bengaluru, Dec 11: With the Karnataka legislative council getting adjourned sine die without taking up the contentious anti-cow slaughter bill passed by the Assembly, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Friday said, the government will promulgate an ordinance to bring it into effect.
The Chief Minister also expressed reservations about the legislative council's Chairman K Pratapachandra Shetty's decision to adjourn sine die "abruptly", and said that the government has decided to convene the house on Tuesday and also petitioned the Governor in this regard.
Shetty had on Wednesday set aside the BJP's attempt to move a no-confidence motion against him stating that he was taking legal opinion on the matter, and had refused to include it in the agenda citing rules that the subject could be taken up only after 14 days after submission of notice of no- confidence.
Shetty was elected as the Chairman of the Council during the Congress-JD(S) coalition government.
Currently the ruling BJP is the single largest party in the Council with 31 seats, followed by Congress with 29 seats including the chairman.
The JD(S) has 14 seats and there is one independent.
According to sources, the ruling party's move to convene the Council on Tuesday is aimed at taking forward the no-confidence motion against the chairman, with the help of JD(S).
"We will promulgate an ordinance (on anti-cow slaughter), you know that in the council the Chairman was not cooperating, so we will be promulgating an ordinance," Yediyurappa told reporters.
The Chief Minister performed 'Gau Pooja' (cow worship) at his official residence Cauvery here on Friday morning in the backdrop of passage of the bill in the assembly.
It is known worldwide that in Hindu dharma cows are revered and in India, which is an agrarian country, and animal husbandry is a source of income for agriculturists, and cattle are used in farming activities, he said.
"As cows are considered an asset in the Indian culture, the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill has been passed by the state's legislative assembly, which further strengthens the existing law," he added.
The Bill was passed by the assembly on Wednesday, amidst din, with stiff opposition from Congress.
The legislative council was adjourned sine die on Thursday, and the bill is yet to be tabled there for passage.
For a bill to become law, its passage in the council, followed by assent by the Governor is necessary.
According to sources, the BJP government that had "hurriedly" tabled the bill and ensured its passage in the assembly on Wednesday did not table it in the council on Thursday sensing that the numbers were not in its favour with combined opposition-Congress and JD(S)- against it, and may refer it to the joint select committee.
Leader of the House and Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary stated in the upper house on Thursday that the bill can be taken up for discussion on Friday citing absence of the Minister concerned, when the Congress insisted for it in response to BJP's demand that the no-confidence motion against the Chairman be taken up first.
Stating that as per the bill, cow slaughter will attract imprisonment of up to seven years and a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh, the Chief Minister said, it also provides for setting up special courts for dealing with related cases, along with protection for those who protect cows, and ban on inter-state transportation of cows for the sake of slaughtering.
He said that his government was committed towards strengthening laws aimed at protection of cows, and necessary arrangements will be made by setting up infrastructure where cows can be taken care of.
"Ninety per cent of the state's people are happy with the bill, we had said in our election manifesto (about anti- cow slaughter law). Earlier (in previous BJP tenure) we had brought in legislation against cow slaughter, but it was not given assent then. Now we are bringing it to effect once again," he added.
Ever since the BJP came back to power in the state, several party leaders have been making a pitch to re-enact the anti-cow slaughter law.
The party's state executive had adopted a resolution to this effect.
State's Animal Husbandry Minister Prabhu Chavan along with officials, had travelled to Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat to study and gather information regarding implementation of the laws there, before bringing the bill to assembly.
Responding to a question that the council was abruptly adjourned without completing the agenda, Yediyurappa said, it has now been decided to convene the council on Tuesday and the Governor has also been petitioned in this regard.
"The council chairman doesn't have the powers to abruptly adjourn the house (sine die). It was decided at the Business Advisory Committee meeting to conduct the session till Tuesday or Wednesday and the Chairman was personally present at those meetings, still he has abruptly adjourned, which is not right," he added.
The BJP has claimed that the chairman adjourned the house sine die despite its insistence to conduct the proceedings as scheduled and take up the no-confidence motion against him.
Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J C Madhuswamy stating that the plan was actually to conduct the council proceedings till December 15, has said that it was decided to adjourn only the assembly sine die on Thursday and not the council.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
TN polls: DMK promises Rs 8,000 'Illatharasi' coupon scheme for women
Chennai (PTI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M K Stalin on Sunday released his party's manifesto for the April 23 Assembly elections, and announced providing the "Illatharasi" coupon scheme worth Rs 8,000 for women to buy/replace household electronic goods.
He promised to implement a number of welfare measures in different sectors including education, industry and farming should the DMK return to power and described his party's set of poll promises as a "superstar.".
He said the coupon for women could be used to buy household appliances like TV, refrigerator, washing machine, mixie, microwave oven, induction stove or replace them.
"This new Illatharasi scheme will be implemented. Under this scheme, the women of families who don't come under the income tax bracket would be provided a one-time coupon worth Rs 8,000 to purchase these electronic goods from the shops in their places of residence," Stalin said.
'Illatharasi' in Tamil literally translates to the "queen of the house," and in effect refers to a women head of the family.
Announcing a slew of welfare measures targeting women, girl students, farmers and fishermen, he said "I have mentioned a few as a highlight."
"Usually in Tamil Nadu elections the DMK election manifesto is the hero, but now Dravidian model 2.O's poll manifesto is the superstar," Stalin, who is confident of winning over 200 seats out of 234 in the April 23 election, said.
Expanding the coverage for treatment under the CM Health Insurance scheme to Rs 10 lakh by increasing the annual income ceiling, hiking pension for elderly, widows and spinsters above 50 years to Rs 2,000 per month, doubling the monthly grant under the Kalaignar Magalir Urumai Thogai (monthly assistance) to Rs 2,000 and adding new eligible women under this scheme were some of the other promises the ruling party made.
Expanding the Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme till Class 8, and providing free modern electric pump sets without any meters to more than 20 lakh farmers receiving free electricity were among the numerous announcements.
The DMK chief assured to enhance the procurement price of paddy to Rs 3,500 per quintal and the procurement price of sugarcane to Rs 4,500 per tonne.
About 10 lakh new concrete houses will be built under Kalaignarin Kanavu Illam housing scheme and various other housing schemes towards a hut-free Tamil Nadu by 2030.
Skill training will be imparted for five lakh youth who have completed higher education and they will also receive Rs 1,500 per month upon enrolment and completion of 6-month training under the Naan Mudhalvan scheme, he said.
The state will ensure foreign investment of Rs 18 lakh crore aiming to create 50 lakh jobs in five years. The monthly higher education grant of Rs 1,000 to students under Pudhumai Penn and Tamil Pudhalvan schemes will be increased to Rs 1,500. About 35 lakh free laptops will be provided to all college students.
Establishing four future-ready global cities around Coimbatore, Salem, Madurai, and Tiruchirappalli apart, about 50 Semmozhi Poonga's will be constructed across Tamil Nadu, he said.
In his address, Stalin exuded confidence that the DMK is " going to form government for seventh time."
"This confidence is not just of the party workers but all of TN people, because no state government has made so many achievements. So many record schemes have been delivered. We have achieved double digit growth," he said
The DMK started its tenure in 2021 with a 10-year vision plan.
Today, 1.31 crore women were receiving Rs 1000 monthly assistance, he said. The BJP tried to stop it citing election but we realised the conspiracy and gave it in advance in February," the DMK chief added.
The manifesto was prepared by a team headed by party deputy general secretary and Lok Sabha MP Kaniozhi and the team members included two state ministers. Stalin felicitated them on the occasion.
