Shiv Sena: Add cow slaughter, beef smuggling to sacrilege law

A delegation of Shiv Sena (Shinde faction), led by senior state vice-president Manish Sood and state vice -president Rajneesh Pasricha, met Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Jashanjit Singh today and submitted a memorandum addressed to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

The delegation urged the state government to include cow slaughter and beef smuggling under the ambit of the proposed anti-sacrilege law being formulated in Punjab.

Speaking to the media after handing over the memorandum, Sood and Pasricha alleged that there is a growing attempt to create communal tension in Punjab by disrespecting the religious sentiments of Hindus and Sikhs.

The leaders welcomed the Punjab government’s move to enact a stricter law to prevent the desecration of religious texts, but insisted that such legislation would be incomplete without stringent provisions against cow slaughter and the illegal beef trade.

The memorandum also called for strong punitive actions including encounters against those involved in cow slaughter and the demolition of their properties using bulldozers — a controversial but increasingly common measure in some Indian states.

“Maintaining peace and religious harmony in Punjab requires decisive action. The government must not hesitate in acting against those who insult our beliefs,” added Pasricha, expressing confidence that the Chief Minister would consider their demands seriously.

Also present during the submission were district president Navi Singh, Phagwara in-charge Rishi, city president Pranav Sood, deputy president Shivam Kumar and members Happy, Nikhil, Ansh and Manga, among others.