Notification should be “torn to bits” and “dumped in a dust-bin” : A K Antony
AMN / Thiruvananthapuram
People from different parties and walk of life on Saturday organised ‘Beef Fests’ in various parts of Kerala. They were protesting against Centre’s decision of banning sale and purchase of cattle from animal markets for slaughter, even as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said he would approach the prime minister in this matter.
Activists of the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF, opposition Congress-headed UDF and their youth wings took out marches and organised these fests across the state, where beef is widely consumed.
The Central government has banned the sale and purchase of cattle from animal markets for slaughter, a move that is expected to hit export and trade of meat and leather.
Demonstrations were held outside the secretariat in the state capital where the protesters cooked and distributed beef on the road side.
In Kollam district, a group of Congress workers cooked beef in front of the DCC office to register its opposition to the Centre’s decision. District unit chief of Congress, Bindu Krishna told reporters that “beef delicacy will be packed and sent to head post office for delivery to Modi ji.”
In Kochi, Tourism and Devaswom minister Kadakampally Surendran participated in a ‘beef fest’, where bread and beef curry was served, even as Youth Congress activists took out a protest march in the city.
In Thodupuzha in Idukki district, protesters took out a march with the head of a buffalo.
The Union environment ministry has notified the stringent ’Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017’ under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan yesterday said the new rules are very “specific” and aim to regulate animal markets and sale of cattle.
Reacting to the Centre’s decision, senior Congress leader and former Union minister A K Antony said the notification should be “torn to bits” and “dumped in a dust-bin”. The UDF will observe ‘black day’ on Monday against the ban, opposition leader in the assembly Ramesh Chennithala said at Thrissur. Front workers will wear black badges and take out protest marches, he said.
Meanwhile Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Saturday shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying imposing restrictions on cattle trade will affect the country’s secular ethos and millions of livelihoods.
Vijayan also said that such restrictions in a hasty manner will prove to be a “challenge in upholding the plurality” which was the essence of the nation.
“… kindly intervene in this matter and repeal the newly-imposed restrictions, so that the lives and livelihoods of millions of our fellow countrymen can be protected, while safeguarding the fundamental principles of our Constitution,” Vijayan said in his letter.
Centre had yesterday banned the sale and purchase of cattle from animal markets for slaughter through an environment ministry notification — ‘Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017’ under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
The chief minister in his letter, which was shared on his official Facebook page, also pointed out to the prime minister that it will be difficult for the vast majority of farmers to “legally procure” draught animals used for agriculture and other domestic purposes.