As the cases of cow theft surge in Congress-ruled Karnataka’s Uttar Kannada district, District in-charge Minister Mankal Vaidya said that cow thieves should be shot dead in public.
“Arrests have been made (in some cases) – if such things continue – it may be wrong if I say this. I will ensure that they (the accused) are shot on the road. Work, earn and eat, there are enough jobs available in our district. We won’t support such people at any cost. …If we support such activities, how do FIRs and arrests happen? We are not sitting quietly, the department (police) is taking action to control it, the government is there. I’m here, all action is being taken. Neither the government nor the Chief Minister or Home Minister will support anyone on this issue. We will work to protect those rearing cows, there is no need to fear,” Vaidya said.
Mankal Vaidya further assured that necessary steps will be taken to protect cows from thieves. Minister Vaidya’s comments came amidst outrage over the recent incident wherein a pregnant cow was slaughtered near Honnavar. In that incident, Police arrested Ahmed Jiddah, 41, a resident of Valki in Honnavar taluk of Uttara Kannada district, for beheading a pregnant cow and mutilation of its calf in a village in Honnavar.
The minister told the media that he has instructed the police to take stringent action against those who steal cows.
“Cow theft has been happening for several years. I have told the SP (Superintendent of Police) that this should stop and should not happen at any cost. It is wrong. We worship cows. We affectionately rear this animal. We grow up drinking its milk,” Vaidya said.
Meanwhile, Congress has started downplaying the comments and started distancing itself from Vaidya’s remarks. Karnataka Home Minister B Parmeshwara said, “I am not aware of Minister Vaidya’s statement. He might have made the statement in his personal capacity, perhaps in the heat of the moment.”
