Cattle Slaughter will be according to law : Dilip Ghosh

MP, May 20, 2026, Kolkata: State Animal Resources Development (ARD) minister Dilip Ghosh on Tuesday said that slaughter of cattle should be carried out strictly in accordance with the rules and regulations of the country. The minister held a high-level government meeting as part of an intensified cow protection campaign in the presence of officials of the block and district levels who attended through video conferencing.

“Illegal slaughter of cattle has been continuing for many years. As a minister, I appeal to everyone not to take the law into their own hands. There is no religious basis linking cows with Qurbani or Eid. Even if certain practices have existed for a long time, they must be carried out strictly in accordance with laws,” Ghosh said.

He expressed hope that people would become more aware of the legal provisions of slaughter in the coming days. “Police are maintaining strict surveillance to preserve law and order, and our department will fully cooperate in controlling the situation and resolving any problems,” he added.

Recently, the Bengal government issued a notification stating that cows below 14 years of age cannot be slaughtered illegally. The directive has been issued in accordance with the cow protection law enacted in 1950. Tuesday’s meeting focused on ensuring that the state government’s guidelines are implemented effectively across all levels of administration.

Citizens have been advised to report any such incidents to the nearest Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) office or police station.

Earlier in the day, while attending a gathering over tea at Kankurgachi, Ghosh stated that the cow is unparalleled even when it comes to maintaining normal blood pressure. According to him, caressing a cow helps lower high blood pressure. “Caressing a cow can help lower blood pressure. Stroking a cow’s dewlap or the hump on its back causes blood pressure to drop rapidly,” he added.

Ghosh also asserted that cow dung possesses curative properties. Citing the example of a relative of his own, he remarked, “After applying cow dung to a swollen part of the body, the ailment subsided.”

When asked about the BJP government’s new decision of free rides for women in government buses, Ghosh said that the new government will procure another 5000 new buses, which will be mostly electric ones. “We want to ensure that women get maximum benefit from free bus rides and so our Chief Minister has said that we will purchase buses through loan,” Ghosh added.