The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Thursday demanded a total ban on cow slaughter in the country and vowed to raise the issue in parliament when it meets Dec 1.
BJP general secretary Rajnath Singh told reporters here that the decision to demand a ban on cow slaughter was taken by the party's national executive as part of its resolution on the agriculture sector.
"We will definitely take up the issue in parliament. But whether or not we should launch protests in this regard will be decided after fathoming the government's response," he said.
BJP leader Prahlad Singh Patel had moved a private member's bill on the issue in the Lok Sabha in April 2003 but it could not be passed due to stiff resistance from the opposition members who contended that it was state subject.
The party demanded that the Congress-led government table the bill (against cow slaughter) prepared during the previous National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regime.
The issue of a ban on cow slaughter has been close to the hearts of groups like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.