JOIN USSpl session in Kerala House to debate ban on cattle sale
The Kerala Legislative Assembly will hold a special session on June 8 to formalise its response to the Centre’s ban on the sale of cattle at livestock markets for slaughter.
A decision in this connection was taken at a Cabinet meeting here on Friday. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had earlier stated that the session would be part of the state’s response to the May 23 notification, issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, which stipulates the new restrictions.
Kerala, while exploring legal options to counter the curbs, has also proposed a meeting of all chief ministers on the issue.
The state has taken the lead in opposition against the new restrictions, with Vijayan writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking withdrawal of the notification.
The contention that the notification is in conflict with the federal structure of governance has largely found favour across political affiliations in the state, while the BJP dubs the opposition a political campaign over a non-existent “ban” on the slaughter of cattle.
Trucks stopped
Trucks transporting cattle from Tamil Nadu to markets in Kerala were stopped at the inter-state border near Pollachi late on Thursday night.
The truck drivers told reporters on Friday that a group of men, who identified themselves as Hindu Munnani activists, intercepted them and said they wouldn’t be allowed to transport the cattle to Kerala.
Despite police intervention, some of the truck drivers are learnt to have returned. According to reports, the remaining trucks were stationed near Pollachi through the night, and entered Kerala in the early hours of Friday to reach the markets.
DH News Service