Lucknow, June 20: Defending the Uttar Pradesh government’s decision to invoke the National Security Act (NSA) against those involved in cow slaughter and cow smuggling, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and State BJP president Keshav Prasad Maurya tells The Hindu that it is aimed at “instilling fear in the hearts of such people”.
Q: Why have you now decided to invoke the National Security Act in cow slaughter cases?
If the NSA is lodged against somebody who smuggles or slaughters cow/cow progeny, I feel that will create fear in another person who is planning to do it. The government’s thought behind invoking the NSA in such crimes is to instil fear in the hearts of those who work in this sector that if such incidents happen, harsh action will follow.
Q: Isn’t there a scope for its misuse? People can be booked and harassed…
Not at all. How can it be misused? If anyone kills a cow and evidence is found against the person, only then the NSA will be invoked. It is not invoked on the first day. I have full hope that in U.P. nobody will dare take a knife close to a cow’s throat.
(The featured image at the top is that Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya)
