A fresh political controversy has erupted in West Bengal after Humayun Kabir, chief of the Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP), declared that ritual animal sacrifice during Eid al-Adha would continue “at any cost”, days after the government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced stricter enforcement against illegal cattle slaughter.
Kabir’s remarks came in response to a public notice issued under the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act, 1950, as the state administration intensified monitoring ahead of Eid al-Adha.
Speaking to reporters in Hooghly on Wednesday, the former Trinamool Congress MLA said religious sacrifice, or qurbani, would continue despite objections.
“The government can make a rule asking Muslims not to eat beef, but ritual sacrifice (qurbani) will continue. We won’t listen to any objections,” Kabir said.
Calling qurbani a centuries-old Islamic tradition, he added, “It’s a tradition that has been going on for 1,400 years and will continue as long as the world exists.”
‘Cows, goats, camels will be sacrificed’
Kabir further escalated the debate by stating that sacrificial practices would continue regardless of criticism or restrictions.
“Sacrifice will take place, come what may,” he said. “Cows will be sacrificed, goats will be sacrificed, camels will be sacrificed, sheep will be sacrificed—all animals that are permissible for sacrifice will indeed be sacrificed. No one can stop it.”
“The sacrifice will definitely happen; even if someone forbids it, we will not heed them,” he added.
His comments have drawn attention amid heightened political and communal sensitivities in the state ahead of Bakrid.
Bengal government recently tightened cattle slaughter enforcement
The controversy comes shortly after the newly formed Bengal government held a law-and-order review meeting at Nabanna and directed police to crack down on illegal cattle trade and slaughter activities.
Officials were instructed to strictly enforce laws related to illegal slaughterhouses and improve coordination in border districts to prevent illegal cattle movement. The administration also directed authorities to ensure licensed cattle trade remains within legal limits.
Muslim clerics and leaders urge legal compliance
Amid the growing row, senior cleric of Furfura Sharif, Toha Siddiqui, urged Muslims to obey the law and avoid cow slaughter during qurbani.
“Everyone should obey the law against cow slaughter. Cows should not be slaughtered during sacrifice,” Siddiqui said.
However, he also questioned what he described as inconsistency in enforcement, pointing to India’s beef export industry.
“We have given up eating beef. Will we die if we don’t eat beef?” he remarked.
Meanwhile, Husain Dalwai appealed for sensitivity toward Hindu religious sentiments.
“If the sentiments of our Hindu brothers are hurt by cow slaughter, then I believe that we should not sacrifice cows. Because we live in this country together and respect each other’s religion,” Dalwai said, suggesting goats could be sacrificed instead.
Kabir no stranger to controversy
Kabir has previously made controversial statements that triggered political backlash. Last year, while serving as a Trinamool Congress MLA, he announced plans to lay the “foundation stone of the Babri Masjid” in Murshidabad on December 6, the anniversary of the 1992 demolition of the Babri structure in Ayodhya, drawing criticism from BJP leaders who accused him of communal polarisation.
