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Gujarat chief minister says he wants to make state 'vegetarian'

Gujarat chief minister says he wants to make state 'vegetarian'

Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani

Story highlights

Vijay Rupani told the Indian Express he is 'not against any food' but wants to make Gujarat 'shakahari'

Gujarat amended itsGujarat Animal Preservation Act, 1954 Friday to make the maximum punishment for the killing of acow a life term in jail.

The state now has the country's toughest law against cow slaughter.

Talking to the Indian Express after the amendment was passed, chief minister Vijay Rupani said that while he was "not against any food", he wanted to make Gujarat "shakahari" (vegetarian).

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"We do not want Jersey cows, but Gir and Kankreji cows instead," he said.

Rupani then went on to describe Gujarat as a "unique state" which followed the principles of Mahatma Gandhi -- "non-violence and truth".

"This is Gandhi’s Gujarat, Sardar’s (Vallabhbhai Patel) Gujarat and (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi’s Gujarat," he said.

The earlier maximum sentence in Gujarat for the killing of a cow was three to seven years. The amendment pushes that up to 14 years.

The amendment now also allows for a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh, and not less than Rs 1 lakh.

(WION)