Controversy over slaughter

SURAT, March 14: With barely a fortnight to go for Mahavir Jayanti and Id-ul-Azha, which would be observed on March 29, Students Islamic ...

SURAT, March 14: With barely a fortnight to go for Mahavir Jayanti and Id-ul-Azha, which would be observed on March 29, Students Islamic Movement of India SIMI has begun an exercise in favour of non-vegetarianism in Gujarat, which has a sizeable concentration of Jains.

This assumes importance following demand by Jains to ban animal slaughter on March 29 as a mark of respect to their religious sentiments. Meanwhile, Muslims say kurbani is an integral part of their festival and the will of a miniscule religious community could not be forced upon them.

Congress Working Committee member and party in-charge of Minority Affairs Arjun Singh, who was hear last week, has already submitted a memorandum to the State Governor saying implementing such a ban will not be in people8217;s interests and might lead to communal disturbances.

A symposium organised by SIMI on Non-vegetarianism: a conundrum seeking answers8217; on Sunday here was addressed by speakers from Hindu, Muslim and Christian communities. The Jain community reportedly turned down an invitation to participate. A similar programme will be held in Ahmedabad on March 20.

The Muslim speakers claimed that while the demand was aimed at respecting Jains8217; sentiments, it would mean crushing the sentiments of the Muslim community, who were much more in number. 8220;Can India be called a truly secular country if the State discriminated between religious sentiments?8221; they sought to know and concluded that it was more of a political issue.

A senior Muslim leader Ashraf Jafri alleged that Hindu organisations were using Jains as an excuse. 8220;The RSS, VHP and BD have said that they won8217;t allow animal slaughter,8221; he further alleged.

Jafri even questioned the logic of calling cow a holy animal and a mata. Making arguments 8212; some offending but forceful 8212; to shore up the contention that 8220;cow worship was a farce8221;, he pointed out that the animal was allowed to die in Goshalas. There was no ban on cow slaughter in Nepal, the only Hindu Rashtra in the world, he claimed.

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8220;Even curd is relished by most non-Muslims. Can8217;t they be accused of killing thousands of organisms which convert milk into curds,8221; Jafri observed adding that 8220;the human digestive system allowed eating of non-vegetarian food8221;.

8220;Even plants have life. Aren8217;t we committing jivhatya when we eat vegetables,8221; another speaker Asif Shaikh said. Even the Hindu religion sanctioned consuming non-vegetarian food, Shaikh said, quoting from the Manusmruti, Vishnu Dharmantar Purana, Mahabharat and Vedas. Why were the Jivdaya lovers not concerned about people who were neither getting vegetarian nor non-vegetarian food, Shaikh questioned. 8220;Why was no one raising hue and cry over the exploitation of the dalits and the hungry? Weren8217;t they too entitled to dayabhav,8221; he asked.

Director of Centre for Social Studies Dr Lancy Loby quoting observed ethnocentrism was the bane of the society. Citing anecdotes, he exposed hypocrisy on part of people who equally loved non-vegetarian food but did not want others to know it. Swami Ambarishanandji of Sadhu Sevashram Sangh said it was a matter of choice, and should be left to individuals. He classified food and people as satvik, rajasi and tamasi, and said the choice of food was greatly determined by geographic factors.