Chennai, Aug 21: DMK president M Karunanidhi today said that it was 'better to avoid' bringing in a bill to ban cow slaughter as it might 'unnecessarily endanger religious harmony' in the country. Some north-eastern states and the Kerala government had already expressed their opposition to the bill. If the bill was passed, about 15 lakh people engaged in tannery works would lose their jobs and foreign exchange reserves would come down by Rs 3,150 crore, he said in a statement here, quoting the views of council of leather exports (CLE).

"Though one should not kill an animal for food, it is rather inappropriate to segregate cows alone for the ban, vis-a-vis the slaughter', Karunanidhi said, adding avoiding such legislation would always be better for the country. He also criticised the government for toying with the idea of reducing the retirement age of government staff as reported in the press.

Bureau Report