Ranit Kr. Singh , Kolkata - West Bengal Minister Agnimitra Paul strongly criticized Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) founder Humayun Kabir on Friday after he challenged the state government’s strict execution of cattle slaughter regulations. Defending a newly issued notification under the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act of 1950, Paul asserted that the laws are being strictly enforced now, having previously been ignored due to "vote bank politics." She firmly told Kabir that he must comply with the rules of the state or relocate to another state or an Islamic nation if he refuses to follow Indian laws.

The political confrontation erupted following Kabir's open defiance, in which he claimed that ritual sacrifice (Kurbani) is a 1,400-year-old tradition that would continue regardless of state objections. The state government’s strict guidelines mandate that animals can only be slaughtered if a joint fitness certificate is issued in writing by a Municipality Chairperson or Panchayat Samiti President alongside a Government Veterinary Officer, proving the animal is over 14 years old and unfit for work or breeding. Additionally, the order completely bans slaughtering animals in open public spaces, confining the practice strictly to designated municipal slaughterhouses, with violations attracting up to six months of imprisonment, a fine of up to ₹1,000, or both.

Meanwhile, the Calcutta High Court’s division bench, comprising Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi, refused to grant a stay on the state's directive ahead of the Id-Uz-Zuha celebrations. The court reiterated that open public slaughter is strictly prohibited and clarified that cow sacrifice is not a religious requirement under Islam. The bench further directed the West Bengal administration to evaluate its infrastructure and ensure a robust mechanism is operational across the state for issuing the mandatory certificates.