Maharashtra Minority Commission chief hails CM Fadnavis's cow slaughter ban enforcement, urges Muslim community cooperation
Nagpur, May 25
In view of the upcoming Bakri Eid festival, Maharashtra Minority Commission Chairman Pyare Khan on Monday said the state government's measures on cow protection were a commendable step by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and urged the Muslim community to fully comply with the ban on cow slaughter.
Speaking to ANI, Khan said, "This is a very commendable step by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Previously, a particular community would come to me and complain about injustice being done to them. But under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), action will be taken against everyone involved, whether they are sellers, buyers, or slaughterers."
Khan also referred to historical and religious perspectives while addressing the issue.
"In 1948, when the Constitutional Convention was underway, ZH Lari was the first to speak out on cow protection, saying that cows should be protected in this country," he noted.
He further added that religious teachings also emphasise compliance with local laws."In Islam, too, there is a rule that you must obey the rules of the place where you live. Cow slaughter is banned in Maharashtra, so all members of the Muslim community must abide by it."
Emphasising religious harmony and civic duty, Khan added, "Our sacrifice should be such that it doesn't cause any inconvenience to anyone else. The government has issued instructions to all collectors, officials, and the NMC commissioner. Slaughterhouse has been allocated to perform the sacrifice. We must cooperate with the administration and the police."
On Saturday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the state government has invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) for the first time against offences related to cow smuggling, illegal cattle transportation and illegal slaughterhouses, asserting that the move would withstand legal scrutiny.
Speaking on the state government's action against illegal cattle trade and slaughterhouses, Fadnavis said, "For the first time, we have implemented the MCOCA law, and I believe it will be completely justified in court. If anyone does this, MCOCA will be invoked against them."
— ANI
Reader Comments
Pyare Khan ji's statement is balanced. He rightly says Islam teaches obeying local laws. But using MCOCA for this seems harsh - it's a tough law meant for organized crime, not for a tradition. Some middle ground would be better.
Finally someone in the Minority Commission saying it like it is! Bakri Eid doesn't require breaking the law. We have slaughterhouses and rules - just follow them. Fadnavis sir's tough stance will stop the illegal trade. Well said Pyare Khan ji 🙏
As someone who follows Indian politics from abroad, this is an interesting case. Khan's reference to Z.H. Lari in 1948 shows cow protection has broad support historically. The real issue is enforcement - if MCOCA stops illegal slaughtering and smuggling networks, it could actually reduce communal tensions around this sensitive topic.
Pyare Khan ji's approach is commendable - respect for both religious sentiments and law. But let's be honest, will MCOCA be applied to all equally, or will it target only one community? The fear of misuse remains. We need transparency in implementation, not just tough laws.
Interesting debate between tradition and law. In the US, we have similar tensions around religious practices vs. animal welfare. Khan's point about compliance with local laws is universal. But MCOCA seems disproportionate - it's like using anti-terror laws for a traffic violation. Better to have specific, fair legislation.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.