It’s still not very clear exactly what has been banned in Maharashtra i.e. whether its the slaughter of calves, bulls, bullocks etc. Some news reports suggest only Bullocks may be up for slaughter now. This has already been linked to “Hindutva” and “Brahminical” tendencies by some of the usual suspects:

#BeefBan isn’t about preventing cruelty to animals, it’s about imposing Brahminical culture on all. 1/n — Kavita Krishnan (@kavita_krishnan) March 3, 2015

With the beef ban, the shameful return of brahmanical #Peshwai culture in #Maharashtra under the BJP-Sena Government. pic.twitter.com/LvtGQPr6RO — Mario da Penha (@mlechchha) March 3, 2015

But, we do know what is already banned in other states of India. States like Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and even Jammu & Kashmir have a blanket ban of ANY type of bovine slaughter. Are these states, especially Jammu & Kashmir prone to “Hindutva” or “Brahminical” forces? Also, most of the acts are in force for a long time. While the merits of such a ban are debatable, it is surely a bit hypocritical to make this a religious or casteist debate.

Prohibition of cow slaughter is a Directive Principles of State Policy contained in Article 48 of the Constitution. It reads, “The State shall endeavour to organise agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines and shall, in particular, take steps for preserving and improving the breeds, and prohibiting the slaughter of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle”. Any attempt to give it a communal angle is not sustainable. Also, Even Mahatma Gandhi, was against Cow Slaughter. Someone should remind this to Mr Tushar Gandhi, who is the great-grand son of Mahatma Gandhi:

Beef Ban in Maharashtra is anti Dalit, Christians and Muslims. — Tushar A. Gandhi (@TusharG) March 3, 2015

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State Legal for slaughter Illegal for slaughter Act JAMMU & KASHMIR NONE Voluntary slaughter of any bovine animal such as ox, bull, cow or calf THE RANBIR PENAL CODE, 1932 DELHI Buffalo Slaughter of all agricultural cattle is totally prohibited. THE DELHI AGRICULTURAL CATTLE PRESERVATION ACT, 1994 HARYANA NONE Slaughter of cow (and its progeny) totally prohibited. THE PUNJAB PROHIBITION OF COW SLAUGHTER ACT, 1955 HIMACHAL PRADESH NONE Slaughter of cow (and its progeny) totally prohibited. THE PUNJAB PROHIBITION OF COW SLAUGHTER ACT, 1955 PUNJAB NONE Slaughter of cow (and its progeny) totally prohibited. THE PUNJAB PROHIBITION OF COW SLAUGHTER ACT, 1955 RAJASTHAN NONE All bovine animals (includes cow, calf, heifer, bull or bullocks) THE RAJASTHAN BOVINE ANIMAL (PROHIBITION OF SLAUGHTER AND REGULATION OF TEMPORARY MIGRATION OR EXPORT) ACT, 1995 ASSAM Slaughter of all cattle allowed on ‘fit-for-slaughter’ certificate Slaughter of any cattle without ‘fit-for-slaughter’ certificate THE ASSAM CATTLE PRESERVATION ACT, 1950 BIHAR Slaughter of bull or bullock of over 15 years of age or has become permanently incapacitated for work or breeding due to injury, deformity or any incurable disease. Slaughter of cow and calf, Bulls or bullocks totally prohibited except as stated previously THE BIHAR PRESERVATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF ANIMALS ACT, 1955 GUJARAT Slaughter of buffaloes permitted on certain conditions Slaughter of cow, calf, bull or bullock totally prohibited. THE BOMBAY ANIMAL PRESERVATION ACT, 1954 (APPLIED TO GUJARAT ) ORISSA Slaughter of bull, bullock on fit-for-slaughter certificate Slaughter of cow totally prohibited. THE ORISSA PREVENTION OF COW SLAUGHTER ACT, 1960 UTTAR PRADESH Slaughter of bull or bullock permitted on ‘fit-for-slaughter’ certificate Slaughter of cow totally prohibited. THE UTTAR PRADESH PREVENTION OF COW SLAUGHTER ACT, 1955 GOA Cow, only if the animal is suffering pain or contagious disease or for medical research. Bulls, Bullocks on on obtaining a "fit-for-slaughter" certificate Any other Cow THE GOA ANIMAL PRESERVATION ACT, 1995 & The Goa, Daman & Diu Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, 1978

(Above information is available here)