Cow slaughter

Lahore, Friday, October 3, 1924

IT is scarcely necessary to say that the resolution on cow slaughter, which was adopted by the Subject Committee of the Unity Conference after a discussion lasting over two days and numerous consultations, is essentially in the nature of a compromise. It could not possibly have been anything else. It will not please either those who wanted the slaughter of cows to be absolutely and compulsorily stopped or those who wanted that the right of Muslims to slaughter cows should be unfettered by any regard for Hindu feelings. Of both classes, there are unhappily so many in the country that it is difficult to say whether the resolution will please or displease the majority even among those who will consider any decision arrived at by the conference on such a subject as binding upon them. What can safely be said, however, is that it will satisfy the overwhelming majority of thoughtful, reasonable and fair-minded persons. The very fact that it was unanimously adopted by a committee which was as representative of the various interests concerned as any similar body could possibly have been shows this beyond the possibility of doubt. It will also, we hope and trust, be shown by the reception which will be accorded to it in the Press all over the country. Fanatical opposition to it there is bound to be, but if only the leaders responsible for the decision will be sufficiently in earnest in carrying it out, such opposition will soon die down. After all, no one need be or can be a better Hindu than Pandit Malaviya, and a decision on which he felt no hesitation in congratulating the conference and the country is one of which it can be reasonably expected that Hindu India will eventually accept it.