Mangaluru: MLA Vedavyasa Kamath raised serious concerns about the unchecked rise in illegal cow slaughter, calling it a root cause of communal tension in the district. “While the state has only two authorized slaughterhouses—in Mangaluru and Hubballi—Dakshina Kannada alone is plagued by over a hundred illegal ones,” he pointed out. Kamath questioned how beef is freely available across the district despite having just one officially sanctioned facility in Mangaluru for the past two years.
He further noted that repeated riots have stemmed from cow thefts, urging officials to investigate the beef supply chain and crack down on unlawful operations.
Slamming the selective stance of some leaders, Kamath said, “It’s wrong for those in authority to assert that only their perspective is valid. Such one-sided narratives fuel division.” He also took aim at the rampant drug and ganja trade, blaming it for a rise in violent crimes and urging stringent enforcement to end the drug menace.
Kamath additionally criticized the ongoing illegal extraction and sale of CRZ (Coastal Regulation Zone) sand. “Even though CRZ sand mining has been banned for the next two years, it continues unchecked. The government must calculate how much revenue and environmental damage has occurred due to this illegal activity,” he stressed.
Calling for immediate and impartial action, Kamath emphasized that ignoring these issues could lead to further social unrest and economic harm.