Congress suspends three in Kerala for calf slaughter

The Congress on Monday suspended three youth wing leaders seen in a video killing a calf in Kerala to protest against the Centre’s ban on the sale of cattle for slaughter.

The action came hours after party vice president Rahul Gandhi termed the incident “barbaric” and “unacceptable”.

The party realised inaction over the public slaughter of the calf could undermine the nation-wide protests against the Modi government’s decision last week to ban the sale of cattle for slaughter.

Some party leaders were surprised over the delay, as the Kerala incident threatens the prospects of the Congress in the Hindi heartland, where the cow is revered.

“Such elements have no place in the Congress. The Youth Congress workers have been suspended,” Congress’ chief spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala told reporters here.

Rijil Makkutty, Kannur district president of the Youth Congress, and activists Josey Kandathil and Sharafuddin have been suspended from party.

“India’s ethos and the Congress party’s culture abjures any kind of violence or barbarism against every living being (including) the cow, which has a special place in the hearts and minds of people of India,” Surjewala said.

Senior leaders such as Mukul Wasnik and Digvijaya Singh rushed into damage-control mode as the slaughter attracted widespread condemnation, even from allies like the JD(U).

The BJP hit out at the Congress, saying the act was “shameful and in many ways provocative”.  Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said it was unfortunate that Youth Congress leaders had publicly slaughtered a calf when the Constitution sought to prohibit cow slaughter.

On Sunday, Rahul condemned the butchering on Twitter. “What happened in Kerala yesterday is thoughtless, barbaric and completely unacceptable to me and the Congress. I strongly condemn the incident,” he said.