Cong leader Adhir Chowdhury writes to Bengal CM over animal slaughter notice, seeking clarity

Kolkata: Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Sunday wrote a letter to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari over the West Bengal government’s May 13 notice on “Animal Slaughter Guidelines”, saying it has caused confusion and unrest, especially in Murshidabad district.

In the letter, Chowdhury wrote, “I am writing with the intention of bringing to your notice the fact that the Public Notice dated 13th May, 2026, issued by the Government of West Bengal regarding adherence to the ‘Animal Slaughter Guidelines’ has been causing confusion and also unrest, which needs to be addressed.”

Elaborating on the issue, the Congress leader wrote, “We all know that West Bengal, like any other State or region of the Country, is a State with multifarious groups and communities, who follow a variety of cultural traditions and practises based on the religious faith professed. Murshidabad being a District where the Minority community constitutes the majority of the Population, the Notice regarding adherence to the ‘Guidelines’ has caused consternation in the Community.”

The state government on Wednesday made it mandatory to obtain a fit-for-slaughter certificate before slaughtering bulls, bullocks, cows, calves, buffaloes, buffalo calves and castrated buffaloes. The notice barred public slaughter of these animals and said officials carrying out inspections to enforce the order should not face any obstruction.

Chowdhury also sought the Chief Minister’s intervention to put an end to the confusion for the people regarding the new guidelines. “With a view to enabling people of different communities to practise their socio-religious customs without any misgivings or problems, I would suggest that in places like Murshidabad in particular, the District Administration may undertake measures to identify and demarcate specific locations where people could practise the customs associated with the religious faith they profess.

He continued, “Such locations that are identified and demarcated would be used solely for customary practices associated with the religious grouping. This approach will be an ideal solution for putting to rest the unease the Notice may be causing, particularly amongst the people of the Minority community who constitute a major chunk of the population in Murshidabad, and follow certain practices which are customary. I look forward to your intervention so that the unease and confusion being caused in the district are put to rest.”

IANS