'Shoot cow theft suspects on spot': Karnataka minister's controversial statement
What's the story
Karnataka Minister for Fisheries & Ports Inland Transport, Mankala Subba Vaidya, has courted controversy with his latest statement. He threatened to order the police in Uttara Kannada district to shoot people suspected of cow theft in the middle of the road. The announcement made in Karwar town comes amid a spate of cow theft cases in the region.
Cultural significance
Minister Vaidya's justification for extreme measures
Vaidya defended his position saying it "might sound wrong," but emphasized the cultural significance of cows. "We drink cow's milk every day. It's an animal we see with affection and love," he said. The minister promised that under the current Congress government, both cows and their caretakers would be better protected than the previous BJP regime.
Crime prevention
Vaidya acknowledges past incidents, promises improved measures
Vaidya affirmed that cow thefts had taken place during the BJP's rule but assured that steps would be taken to prevent such crimes under his rule. His remarks come in the wake of recent reports of animal cruelty in Karnataka, including the mutilation of a cow's udders and the beheading of a pregnant cow, as reported by India Today.