‘Beef Fests’ were held in various parts of Kerala on Saturday to protest the Union government’s decision to ban the sale and purchase of cattle from animal markets for slaughter, even as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said he would approach the Prime Minister in this matter.
The fest has been organized by activists of the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF, opposition Congress-headed UDF and their youth wings. The activists took out marches and organized the fests across the State, where beef is consumed
Activists of the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF, opposition Congress-headed UDF and their youth wings took out marches and organised these fests across the State, where beef is widely consumed. Demonstrations were held outside the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, where the protesters cooked and distributed beef on the road side.
The Environment Ministry has notified the stringent ’Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017’ under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Harsh Vardhan, Union Environment Minister, has said that the new rules aim to regulate animal markets and sale of cattle.
Reacting to the Centre’s decision, senior Congress leader and former Union minister A.K. Antony said the notification should be “torn to bits” and “dumped in a dust bin”. The UDF would observe a ‘black day’ on Monday against the ban, Opposition leader in the Assembly Ramesh Chennithala said at Thrissur. Front workers will wear black badges and take out protest marches, he said.
The central government’s move is expected to hit export and trade of meat and leather.