Beef ban

The central government has recently issued an order to ban all sales of cows except to farmers. The given order cane as a result of increasing crimes by cow vigilance. India is a secular democracy and in a democratic set up, a government cannot order or restrict the food habits of the citizens. In a secular country, the majority cannot dictate the rules of governance based upon religion. A ban on a particular type of food affects the food chain causing imbalance in nature. A ban on sale of cow not only effects the farmers, beef consumers but also leather and allied industries. Even the farmers with old and ailing cows are left burdened with the responsibility of am animal that can do them no good.
Every individual has a right to decide what he wants to eat and the government has no right to dictate the same. Government cannot restrict food the way it can restrict harmful products. Food choices depend upon a person's cultural background and are often individual in nature. Government has no place in someone's kitchen. Government can make rules to control tobacco or narcotics consumption because they are harmful products. But definitely it cannot decide to ban a particular food item which is a good source of protein. India is a country where fifty percent of women in child bearing age are anemic and a majority of children are malnourished. In such a situation, banning a source of protein is not only myopic but also a bad policy decision. Religion cannot take precedence when the future of health of the country is concerned.