Kerala passes resolution urging govt to withdraw cattle trade ban

The Kerala Legislative Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution urging the Centre to withdraw its May 23 notification banning the sale of cattle for slaughter through livestock markets.

Backed by the ruling CPM-led Left front and the Congress-led Opposition, the substantive motion moved by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was passed.

It highlighted the adverse impact of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017, on agricultural economies, food security and cattle trade on the states, and sought immediate withdrawal of the restrictions.

“The House seeks from the Centre a validation of the states’ rights to formulate policies and laws on state subjects,” the motion read.

“Theories of the sacred cow and ox, which even challenge the ones formulated by Darwin, are being imposed upon the people,” CPM veteran V S Achuthanandan said.

The note of dissent against the resolution came from the lone BJP MLA, O Rajagopal.

The MLA from Nemom reiterated his party’s stance that the ruling and Opposition fronts joined hands to target the Centre and make political gains out of a non-issue.

Beef for breakfast
MLAs who were at the Assembly canteen in the morning found a surprise entry in the breakfast menu, beef fry, quite in line with the issue the House was set to debate minutes later at a special session.

U Prathibha Hari, CPM MLA from Kayamkulam, said she had the dish as a protest against the Centre’s curbs on cattle sale. “I don’t have beef for breakfast, but today I made an exception,” she told DH.

Beef dishes are among the favourites in the canteen’s lunch menu, but the administrators are learnt to have made an exception for the day by including the meat for breakfast. 

“It was not planned, but when I realised it was a special dish, I just had it,” S Rajendran, CPM MLA from Devikulam, told DH.

Kerala has hosted a series of beef festivals against the cattle sale restrictions, triggering criticism from the Sangh Parivar.
DH News Service