Haryana's Stray Cattle Crisis: Government's Failure Exposed as Elections Loom

The stray cattle crisis in Haryana has become a ticking time bomb for the BJP government, led by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, as the state heads into elections. Despite boasts of increased funding and gaushalas, the problem continues to plague farmers and commuters, exposing the government's inability to tackle the issue effectively. 

The numbers are staggering - over 5 lakh stray cattle roam the state, causing widespread damage to crops and posing a significant risk to road safety. According to official data, the state has seen a 30% increase in stray cattle numbers over the past year alone. The situation is particularly dire in districts like Sirsa, Hisar, and Sonepat, where farmers have reported significant losses due to crop damage. 

Despite the government's claims of increasing gaushalas and funding, the problem persists, leaving farmers frustrated and commuters at risk. The government has allocated ₹50 crore for infrastructural needs of cow shelters and ₹70 crore for fodder, but gaushala owners report that these funds are insufficient to meet the growing needs of the increasing cattle population.

The government's failure to address the issue has been met with widespread criticism, with many questioning the effectiveness of the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act, 2015. The law, which made cow slaughter punishable with up to 10 years of imprisonment, has inadvertently contributed to the increase in stray cattle numbers.

As the elections approach, the stray cattle crisis has become a critical issue, with the Congress party seizing the opportunity to attack the government's failure. The BJP government's inability to address the issue could prove to be a major factor in the upcoming elections, with the Congress party sensing a potential game-changer. 

Recent local initiatives, such as the drive launched by the Rohtak Municipal Commissioner to catch and rehabilitate stray cattle, have done little to alleviate the problem. Residents remain skeptical about the long-term effectiveness of such drives, as previous efforts have failed to provide a permanent solution.

The stray cattle crisis has also become a major road safety concern, with data showing that stray cattle-related accidents have claimed over 1,500 lives in Haryana between 2018 and 2022. This alarming statistic underscores the urgent need for more effective measures to tackle the issue. 

As the elections draw near, the pressure on the Haryana government to find an effective solution to the stray cattle crisis is likely to intensify. With the Congress party sensing an opportunity to capitalize on the issue, the BJP government will need to act quickly to address the problem and restore public trust.