Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Writes to Mamata Banerjee Over Bengal Animal Slaughter Guidelines

Kolkata, May 17. In a sharply worded letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has raised alarm over the state government’s recent animal slaughter notice. The May 13 directive has triggered widespread confusion and resentment, especially in Murshidabad, a district with a large minority population. The notice requires prior certification for slaughtering certain animals and bans public slaughter. Officials have been instructed to enforce these rules without interference. Chowdhury argued that these measures risk disrupting long-standing religious and cultural practices of various communities across the state. He called on the Chief Minister to step in and clarify the intent behind the guidelines. Chowdhury proposed that local administrations designate exclusive sites for religious rituals to prevent any inconvenience to residents. This step, he believes, would help ease tensions and allow communities to follow their traditions without fear. The Congress leader emphasized the need for sensitivity in policy implementation, particularly in regions with diverse demographic compositions. His intervention has added a new political dimension to the ongoing discussion surrounding animal welfare and religious customs.