Khot said cow shelters promoted by the state government should pay the market price to farmers for unproductive cattle and must come forward to rescue the farmers, adding that he was “ready to pay any price” for his stand. (Express Archive/Narendra Vaskar)Days after Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar held a meeting with top police officials on the growing menace of gaurakshaks (self-styled cow vigilantes), ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLC and farmer leader Sadabhau Khot on Sunday said that the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act, 2015, that prevents the slaughter of cow, bulls and bullocks is against farmers.Speaking to The Indian Express, Khot said, “Let’s be very clear. No farmer would part ways with productive cows. Dairy is a supplementary business of lakhs of farmers in the state. The earning from this is now being spent on taking care of unproductive animals as transfer of these animals is not only banned but under threat from these so-called gaurakshaks. The Act (against cow slaughter) is actually turning against farmers…”About cow vigilantism in the state, he said, “These gaurakshaks resort to extortion from genuine farmers and traders, bringing the transport of animals to a complete standstill.”Khot, a farmer leader from western Maharashtra’s Sangli district, said that as a farmer leader he feels that if the present act (to prevent cow slaughter) threatens the livelihood of farmers, then it should be “torn apart”.“This (the act) is not even helping desi cows as those are getting replaced by Jersey cows. The transfer of newer breeds from different states has totally stopped due to fear of these cow vigilantes. The so-called gaushalas (cow shelters promoted by the state government) should pay the market price to farmers for unproductive cows and must come forward to rescue the farmers,” he said, adding that he was “ready to pay any price” for his stand.Last week, The Indian Express had reported that Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar held a meeting with top police officials in the state over the demands raised by the Qureishi community, which has been complaining against cow vigilantes who allegedly beat up and extort money from animal traders.Following the meeting, state police issued a circular, clarifying that private individuals have no authority to inspect vehicles that transport animals but only police can act against them.Story continues below this adTerming the circular issued by Maharashtra police an eyewash, Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said, “The circular says that only police can take action against illegal animal trade. But it does not say what action will be taken against the private individuals if they are take law in their hands? The majority of these so called cow vigilantes are linked to BJP and RSS and this issue is used for the politics of polarisation.”Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd