"We won't make sacrifice the way we did before": CPI(M) MLA Mustafizur Rahman Rana on Bengal animal slaughter act ahead of Eid al-Adha

CPI(M) legislator Mustafizur Rahman Rana on Sunday said sacrifices during Eid al-Adha (Bakrid) in West Bengal would not be carried out "the way we did before" as the state government moves to enforce provisions under the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act, 1950, ahead of the festival. Speaking to ANI in Murshidabad, Rana said the law being enforced is not a new one, but an existing Act that earlier governments allegedly did not implement strictly.

"This government hasn't implemented any new act. This act has been in place since 1950. The previous government didn't implement the same act, but this government wants to do it," Rana said. He further stated that administrative meetings had already been conducted at police station levels regarding the implementation of the rules during Bakrid.

"Meetings have been held at the administrative level in all the police stations. We won't make the sacrifice the way we did before. It will have to be done very wisely, but a sacrifice will be done," the CPI(M) MLA told ANI. The remarks come amid political and legal debate over the West Bengal government's May 13 notification enforcing stricter compliance with the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act, 1950.

Under the notification, fitness certificates for slaughtered animals can only be issued jointly by municipal or Panchayat authorities and government veterinary officers after certifying that the animal is over 14 years old, permanently incapacitated, or unfit for breeding or work purposes. The order also prohibits slaughter in public places and mandates that it take place only at designated slaughterhouses. Earlier, CPI(M) MP Bikashranjan Bhattacharyya criticised the move, claiming it would adversely affect cattle traders and alleging that many of them belong to the Hindu community.

"There has been a huge cry on the part of the cattle traders, who are basically from the Hindu community. Any action taken by a constitutional government merely on religious consideration has to fail," Bhattacharyya told ANI. CPI(M) state secretary Md Salim also questioned the implementation of the guidelines, saying the rural economy depends heavily on cattle rearing and trade.

Meanwhile, the Calcutta High Court refused to stay the state government's order and reiterated that slaughter of animals in open public places is prohibited under the law. (ANI)

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