Cong takes a dig at BJP cow slaughter ban move

A day after BJP chief ministers resolved to review their laws for imposing a blanket ban on slaughter of cows, bulls and bullocks, the Congress chose to take a dig at the BJP sense of priority, but stopped short of opposing the saffron party’s move.

Congress Rajya Sabha member Jairam Ramesh, briefing the media on behalf of the party, pointed out that in 2005, the BJP focus was on cow slaughter ban. Drawing parallels, he said the Congress conclave of party chief ministers at Chandigarh had a review of the implementation of the party’s election manifesto, rural development programmes, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and the Right to Information Act. But BJP leaders utilised the opportunity to deliberate on cow protection.

When asked to spell out Congress stand on cow slaughter, Ramesh cautiously stated that states governments could take their own decisions, but there was no central policy of the Congress on the matter.

Ramesh welcomed the BJP chief ministers’ decision to adopt VAT ‘‘in principle’’ after six months of tantrums.