In the course of a fortnight, two BJP-run states Maharashtra and Haryana toughened their anti-beef laws. This week, we take a hard look at the how these bans came into place, and the shifting goalposts used to justify them: one minute arguing that the slaughter of cattle will do serious damage to Indian agriculture, the next minute that even killing bullocks is offensive to Hindu sentiment, the third, that the ban will crack down on an illegal and thriving beef trade. Are these claims based on truth or hype?