Bengaluru:Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Sunday demanded a blanket ban on cow slaughter across India and prohibition of import and export of beef.
In a veiled attack on the BJP government in Karnataka, which recently promulgated an ordinance banning cow slaughter in the state, Siddaramaiah said it was raising emotional issues without considering the impact of such laws on the state economy.
"I demand a total ban on the slaughter of cattle across India. Why have Kerala, Goa and North East been exempted?" the Congress stalwart asked during an interaction with reporters here.
He also demanded that import and export of beef be banned. "Ban beef import too. They say that beef coming from foreign countries can be eaten. Isn't the cow in foreign land Go Mata? Beef coming from Australia, New Zealand is not your Go Mata?" Siddaramaiah questioned.
His third demand was to prohibit leather export. "Ban leather export. Ban export and import related to animal products. Make it a national policy," the former chief minister said and alleged that most of the leather exporters were from the BJP, who are now trying to hoodwink people.