Govt not intend to influence any food habits of any person: Harsha Vardhan

Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan on Monday said that the NDA government is not intended to influence any food habits of any person and will not disturb any business. Seeking more representations from the stakeholders on the controversial animal welfare rules, Minister hinted that the rule might be altered.

“I have invited further representation (from states and other stakeholders),” the minister said hours after Meghalaya Assembly passed a resolution opposing the cattle slaughter ban.

“We don't want to influence any food habits of any person. We are also not interested in disturbing the business of slaughtering in any way,” he said. The minister had earlier stated that it was not a prestige issue for the government and the rule could be changed, if required.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had issued the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017 on May 23. The rule has a contentious clause, which states that cattle in the animal market could not be sold for slaughter.

This triggered a huge controversy with several states blaming the central government for influencing the food habit and creating economical problems for farmers and meat industry. On May 30, the Madras High Court had stayed for four weeks the enforcement of the contentious notification.