JOIN USChief Minister Siddaramaiah has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reconsider the ban on sale and purchase of cattle for slaughter at animal markets.
In a letter on Friday, Siddaramaiah termed the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal (Regulation of Livestock Market) Rules, 2017, of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, “unconstitutional” and said these would have a far-reaching negative impact on the country’s economy. Copies of the letter were released to journalists.
“The rules are not in accordance with Articles 249 and 250 of the Constitution. The Central government has interfered with a subject in the State List without the consent of state governments. The rules are against the provisions of Articles 301 and 302 of the Constitution of India that allow free trade,” he stated in the letter.
Siddaramaiah said the Centre did not take the states into confidence before introducing the rules. “Introducing rules on such an important matter without consulting states hits at the roots of federalism,” he noted.
Meat, the key source of protein for the poor, is consumed by people of all faiths, not just minorities and Dalits. The rules bring “unfair and unnecessary dietary restrictions”, he stated.
The chief minister said farmers would be “badly affected” as most of them would not be able to provide documents required to trade the cattle and other animals.