HPI
LONDON, ENGLAND, May 12, 2007: HPI has received two press releases today concerning the handling of the government order to slaughter a bull owned by the Skanda Vale Temple in Wales that has tested positive for bovine tuberculosis. Some Hindus have advocated protecting the bull from the order. Following are two opinion pieces on the issue:
From Jay Lakhani of Vivekananda Centre UK ():
“Hinduism in the UK is getting a lot of press coverage in the last few days, but we are sorry to note that it is for wrong reasons. Let us examine the latest “bull” story that is doing the rounds at the moment.
“Since ancient times Hinduism has recognized that reverence for life cannot be confined to the human kingdom, respect for life should be extended to take into account the animal kingdom. This is clearly visible when we look at some of the Hindu Deities, they are usually accompanied by an animal or a bird thus encouraging the idea of reverence for animal life.
“Some Hindu temples keep cows and bulls or other animals which are well cared for in the holy surroundings of the temple. This is an endearing practice of this religion. Let us now examine the issue of a bull in one Hindu temple which has tested positive to bTB (bovine tuberculosis) skin test. This is an infectious disease which can be transmitted to other animals or even passed on to human beings. There are strict rules in the UK to ensure that when bTB is suspected the local authority can take immediate measures to limit its spread. If the animal is special, then the temple and the local authority should explore all possible avenues to resolve the issue. For example can the animal be quarantined and be allowed to live its natural life? Or be treated in isolation? If so who would supervise the process? Does the local authority have the resources or ability to offer such flexibility, taking into account the sentimental value Hindus attach to this animal. Even in quarantine there will be the question of welfare if the said animal becomes critically ill at a later date. There is another long term concern. What happens if the disease somehow manages to spreads to other animals in nearby Welsh farms? Who will take responsible? The temple, the Hindus or the local authority?
“If there is even the slightest risk of the disease spreading to other animals or even humans, then the way forward would be to put down the animal. The life of the bull is sacred, but so is the life of other livestock or humans who may (even accidentally) come in contact with this bull. Hindu religion places a great deal of emphasis on the importance of using our rational faculties when deciding religious issues. If we let our emotive faculties get out of hand and override our rational analysis of the issue, we lose credibility. We don’t only lose credibility with the establishment, we also lose credibility with our own thinking youth who are puzzled at the manner in which this issue has been blown out of all proportion. The establishment, too, will be puzzled to see Hindus over-reacting on a simple issue of curtailing the spread of bovine disease. They will be thinking, “What were the Hindus doing when the BSE (“mad cow” disease) struck, when millions of cows were being slaughtered?” When Hindus go out on a limb to enforce some kind of Hindu agenda on the establishment, one wonders what are they actually trying to achieve.
And from the Hindu Human Rights group in UK (here):
“It has come to the attention of Hindu Human Rights that the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has issued a notification of slaughter of a bull residing in the Skanda Vale Temple due to having contracted bovine tuberculosis.
HHR calls upon the government to consider the right to life of the animal and to consider every other alternative before acting on its policy of outright slaughter, especially since the voiceless bull, called Shambo, is not intended to enter the food chain and is cared for by the Hindu community in Skanda Vale. If, however every other treatment alternative has been exhausted and the health hazard still remains substantial, then we call upon the Hindu community to reflect on the message of Bhagavad Gita to detach themselves from their emotions and be objective about the situation, and think about the greater good of society.”