Ban beef, but with consensus: RSS

BY Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, Oct 7: Beef should be banned in India, but there should be a consensus before the decision is taken by the government, a senior RSS leader said here today, arguing that the country is having to import cowdung - used as manure by farmers - due to decline in cattle breeding.

Shankad Das, regiol publicity head of the RSS, said that while India is an agrarian country, there is immense demand for milk and cowdung.  

"One one hand, we demand milk while on the other, people slaughter cows. How can this be? There was a time when the cow was covered with a green cloth before being slaughtered. Today, cow slaughter is done openly…in front of Hindu people. This is not good," he said at an interaction at Dispur Press Club here.

Das claimed that there are Muslims too who do not eat beef.

"If anyone wants to appease the Muslim community, he should not do so by hurting the sentiments of the Hindu people," Das said, favouring a ban on even buffalo and goat slaughter.

He denied the notion that the RSS is opposed to Muslims. "We are not opposed to Muslims but we believe in Hinduism. We are not opposed to any form of worship," Das said, responding to queries.

He said that the RSS is a "man-making" organization.

"If people are good, society will be good and eventually the country will be good," he said.

Denying allegations that the BJP is acting at the behest of the RSS, Das said both are separate entities. "We don't seek report cards from the government as stated in the media. You have to be in the organization and study it closely to understand what the RSS is," he said.

The RSS leader also backed the recent Central government notification regularizing stay of minority refugees from Pakistan and Bangladesh, arguing that no other tion will give shelter to such migrants.

When pointed out that the notification defeats the purpose of the Assam Accord, Das insisted that the situation then (1985) was different.