Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency: "The cow should be declared the national animal." This demand was put forward by Maulana Mohammad Shafique Qasmi, the Imam of Nakhoda Mosque. He also submitted this appeal to both the Central and State governments.
The Imam stated that he does not wish to see a widening rift between Hindus and Muslims over the issue of cow slaughter. He pointed out that the guidelines issued by the government regarding cow slaughter are not a recent development; a law concerning this matter was enacted in West Bengal as far back as 1950. According to that legislation, a cow must be at least 14 years old before it can be slaughtered. Furthermore, a veterinary doctor must issue a certificate verifying the animal's condition, and cow slaughter is strictly prohibited in public spaces. The third rule mandates the use of screens or partitions—meaning that the act of *Qurbani* (ritual sacrifice) must be conducted in such a manner that it does not cause offense or discomfort to anyone else.
Maulana Mohammad Shafique Qasmi subsequently added, "I fully support this decision by the government. We have no objections whatsoever. We simply want everyone to abide by it. In the past, every government that came to power exploited the Muslim community; they merely reaped political benefits by ostensibly granting us the 'freedom' to consume meat. What is essential now is that we adhere to the law." While the Imam welcomed the government's decision, he also sought clarification regarding the administration's stance on several specific issues. He raised the question: since the guidelines require the assistance of veterinary doctors to verify whether a cow has reached the age of 14, who will be responsible for arranging for the services of these doctors? Additionally, he argued that the government itself must designate specific locations for the performance of cow *Qurbani*. He asserted that these matters would become much more manageable only if these practical issues were resolved.
Following this, he issued an appeal to the Muslim community: "Please stop consuming beef. Doing so will cause you no harm whatsoever. In fact, the greatest financial loss would be incurred by the Hindus, as they are the ones who rear these cattle. Once a cow is no longer capable of producing milk or assisting in agricultural work, they sell it off to Muslims. A cow that would typically fetch a market price of 15,000 to 20,000 rupees is sold for 60,000 to 70,000 rupees during the *Qurbani* season. Ultimately, this serves to improve the economic condition of the Hindus; by selling a single cow, they are able to purchase four or five new ones." "Secondly, Muslims primarily rear goats and sheep. Consequently, the sale of these animals will increase, and it is the Muslims who will ultimately benefit from this. Citing further data, he noted that India is the largest exporter of cattle; the government must put a stop to this as well. If the cow were accorded the status of the national animal, it would be possible to resolve all these issues. It is simply unacceptable—and indeed, an impossibility—that objections are raised regarding Muslims performing *Qurbani* (ritual sacrifice) while the export of cattle continues unabated."
Incidentally, immediately upon assuming power in the state, the West Bengal government issued a new notification mandating the strict enforcement of the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act, 1950. The published notification states that this directive has been issued in compliance with the Calcutta High Court's verdict dated August 6, 2018, and the subsequent government guidelines issued on June 8, 2022. Non-compliance with this law may result in imprisonment for a term extending up to six months.