Shabbir Ansari of All India Muslim OBC Organisation says while they supported the ban on cow slaughter, its extension to cover bullocks would hurt the local leather industry, drive the meat business underground and deprive the poor across communities of a cheap protein source. Ansari, who spoke to Dhaval Kulkarni, said it was also wrong to give the controversy a communal colour. Excerpts:

Q: What was the background of your protest?When the bill was approved in the house, we toured the state and met farmers and stakeholders, including Hindus, who would be affected by the ban and created awareness on the advantages and disadvantages of the move. The people who will be affected the most by the ban are Hindus.

Q: What are your objections to the ban?We respect the cow and its place in the Hindu religion and are against slaughtering them. But why should this ban be extended to bulls? What should a farmer do if his bull becomes old, infirm, breaks his leg or becomes blind? How can he afford to rear this unproductive animal? From where will we get water and fodder for lakhs of these animals (who will not be slaughtered)? One bull requires about 45 litres of water daily. Does the government have any plans?

Q: How will livelihoods be impacted?What will the Kasabs and Qureshis (butchers) from the Muslim community do? How will farmers make a living? Where will they keep their unproductive animals? There are many Hindus who run bone factories which make glue, bone powder is used to whiten sugar and also as fertilisers. Horns are used to make buttons. By-products are used to manufacture surgical sutures and injections. The leather industry in places like Dharavi will be affected as they cannot use buffalo hides for making leather products. Communities which skin animals will also suffer. Where will these industries go? Does the government have an action plan? This meat is also a cheap source of protein for the poor. It is not that only Muslims eat beef.

Q: What about the religious undercurrent?This angle is wrong. The cow is holy and must be respected. While the role of Muslims is restricted to culling bulls and selling meat, Hindus own establishments like bone factories and leather units. In fact, Muslims do not make much profits in this. Moreover, (Hindutva ideologue and freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar) Savarkar was also against such bans.

Q: What may be the aftermath of the ban?The business will go underground. We will be compelled to import leather products and the local industry will suffer.