Kerala has a unique way of protest, celebrating Beef Festival

Outraged with Central Government decision to ban the sale of cattle for slaughter at animal markets people in Kerala found a unique way of protesting. Students' Federation of India (SFI) and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the students and youth wing of ruling CPM organised 'Beef Festival' across 220 venues across the state. 

At Thiruvananthapuram, Beef Festival was organised in front of state secretariat. As part of the festival, protestors cooked beef in front of Secretariat gate and distributed it among them. 

Kerala is one of the few states that never banned the slaughter of cattle. The latest decision will affect the business of hundreds of small and medium-scale slaughterhouses which will have to shut down if there is a shortage in supply.

The state relies heavily on Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh for cattle supply.  

Kerala is the largest consumer of beef, and the data with Union Ministry of Animal Husbandry points out that 116.48 cattle were slaughtered in the state during 2015-16. Malappuram was the biggest consumer (14.5%) while Thrissur, Ernakulam and Kozhikode followed. 

The move is also a major blow to dairy farmers who sell non-lactating cows for slaughter and buy a new one. It is the demand for beef in the market that fetches then reasonable price during the sale.

Kerala government said the move was part of an attempt to implement RSS agenda and that the state will look into the legal aspects of the issue. "If they are banning beef today, in future they will put a ban on eating fish," Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had said.  Agriculture Minister V S Sunil Kumar made clear that the state would not accept the order. 

The Centre has issued the notification under Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act, 1960, which bans the sale of animals for slaughter and stipulates that cattle can be sold only to the farmer.