The Karnataka Assembly on Wednesday passed the controversial anti-cow slaughter bill amid uproar, as members of the Congress party staged a walkout in protest.

Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill, 2020 seeks a total ban on the slaughter of cattle in the state and proposes strict punishment to those who engage in smuggling, illegal transportation, atrocities on cows and slaughtering them, BJP sources said.

"Yes, the bill has been passed in the Assembly," Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J C Madhuswamy told PTI.

The bill intends to protect cows, their calves, as well as buffaloes and their children below 12 years of age.

A provision saying that special courts will also be set up to punish the guilty.

It also makes provision for setting up Goshala or cattle-sheds for the protection of livestock.

The police have been given power to conduct checking, while those maintaining these livestock will be given protection, the bill says.

The bill was passed without any discussion as there was din in the House.

Earlier, when Animal Husbandry Minister Prabhu Chavan tabled the bill in the evening, Congress MLAs led by leader of the opposition Siddaramaiah trooped into the well of the House.

They alleged the bill was not discussed for tabling in the Business Advisory Committee meeting.

“We had discussed yesterday that new bills will not be tabled.We had agreed that only the ordinances will be passed. Now he (Prabhu Chavan) has all-of-a-sudden introduced this anti-cow slaughter bill,” Siddaramaiah said.

However, Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri said he had clearly said in the meeting that important bills will be tabled on Wednesday and Thursday.

The Congress has expressed fears that the bill, if passed, may be misused for polarisation on communal lines and target the minorities.

On the other hand, the BJP has been saying the bill is to protect the cows which are holy to the Hindus.

A team of officials led by Chavan had recently visited Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat, where the law has been enacted, to study its implementation.