Cow Slaughter.
A total prohibition on cow slaughter has been a long-standing concern for Hindu interest organizations, dating back to before India's independence in 1947 and continuing to the current day.
Despite the fact that discussion on this topic has come and gone throughout the years, it continues to be a dependable source of Hindu rage.
This topic has gotten much greater attention in northern India, where a sizable Muslim minority has no religious problem to killing and eating beef.
During the 1930s Cow Protection Movement, the first popular demand for such a prohibition arose.
This movement exacerbated already strained sectarian tensions between Hindus and Muslims, culminating in considerable violence.
It has been a demand of religious leaders and ascetics since independence, and it has been a platform issue for Hindu political parties like as the Jana Sangh, Shiv Sena, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Previously, such demands had little impact since their proponents lacked the authority to carry them out.
The BJP and the Shiv Sena have attempted to execute this strategy as they have won control of state and municipal administrations.
The VHP launched a nationwide campaign to outlaw cow slaughter in late 1995.
This campaign, like many others run by the VHP, was launched shortly before approaching elections, this time at the national level.
This campaign was seen as an attempt to polarize Hindu voters in order to sway the national election.