<p>The Union environment ministry on Sunday said it was open to modifications in the cattle slaughter rules as the government doesn’t see it as a prestige issue.<br /><br />“The suggestions that have been submitted will be contemplated upon. It is not a prestige issue for us,” Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan said here on the sidelines of an official event to mark the World Environment Day.<br /><br />Rules under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act were not to influence food habits or affect slaughtering business, the minister said.<br /><br />Last month, the ministry issued a gazette notification finalising the new Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017, in order to improve the conditions of animal markets.<br /><br />But the rule came with a controversial clause of banning the sale of cattle for slaughtering in the animal markets.<br />This triggered a massive row all over the country with protests being held in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. Beef eating protests were held by the students of Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.<br /><br />West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described the ban as undemocratic and unconstitutional. She also said her government would not implement it.<br /><br />The meat industry that recorded more than Rs 30,000 crore in export revenue in 2015-16, too, protested against the move.</p>.<p>*Rules not intended toinfluence food habits <br />*Will not affect slaughtering business<br />*Suggestions will becontemplated upon <br />*Not a prestige issue for the Centre </p>
<p>The Union environment ministry on Sunday said it was open to modifications in the cattle slaughter rules as the government doesn’t see it as a prestige issue.<br /><br />“The suggestions that have been submitted will be contemplated upon. It is not a prestige issue for us,” Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan said here on the sidelines of an official event to mark the World Environment Day.<br /><br />Rules under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act were not to influence food habits or affect slaughtering business, the minister said.<br /><br />Last month, the ministry issued a gazette notification finalising the new Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017, in order to improve the conditions of animal markets.<br /><br />But the rule came with a controversial clause of banning the sale of cattle for slaughtering in the animal markets.<br />This triggered a massive row all over the country with protests being held in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka. Beef eating protests were held by the students of Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.<br /><br />West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described the ban as undemocratic and unconstitutional. She also said her government would not implement it.<br /><br />The meat industry that recorded more than Rs 30,000 crore in export revenue in 2015-16, too, protested against the move.</p>.<p>*Rules not intended toinfluence food habits <br />*Will not affect slaughtering business<br />*Suggestions will becontemplated upon <br />*Not a prestige issue for the Centre </p>
