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Kerala passes special resolution against 'anti federal' slaughter ban

  • All, except BJP's lone member O Rajagopal, supported the special resolution
  • Chief Minister called the regulation anti-people and anti-federal
  • He said with the ban about five lakh people would be rendered jobless
Kerala Assembly special session resolution passed

Kerala Assembly passed a special resolution criticising the recent notification of Union Government regulating the sale of cattle for slaughter in open market. All, except BJP's lone member O Rajagopal, supported the resolution. 

Presenting the resolution, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the move aimed at curtailing people's right to eat the food of their choice and called the regulation 'anti-people' and 'anti-federal'. 

He said the ban had affected the state very badly and about five lakh people would be rendered jobless. About 15 lakh cattle were brought to Kerala every year from others states, and due to the ban, their movement was being affected, he said.

In Kerala about 2.5 lakh tonne meat, worth ₹6,552 crore is sold annually. Meat export was a source of income to those engaged in the sector, and this has also been hit, he said.

The state feels that cattle slaughter was not a subject which came under the purview of Parliament to frame regulations, Pinarayi said. 

On May 29, Pinarayi had written to his counterparts in other states asking them to “stand together” and “oppose” the ban on the sale of cattle for slaughter and urge the prime minister to withdraw the new regulations.

“Unless we stand together and oppose this anti—federal, anti—democratic and anti—secular move, it may mark the beginning of a series of similar measures aimed at destroying the federal democratic fabric and secular culture of our country,” he had said in the letter.

“The new notification was an attempt to encroach into a subject upon which Parliament has no right to frame laws, and the state assemblies have constitutional powers,” he had said.

Pinarayi had also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi opposing the ban and urging him to withdraw the new regulations.
Beef fests were held in various parts of the state last month to protest against the ban with some youth Congress activists in Kannur publicly slaughtering a calf to register their protest.

Pinarayi also decided to call a meeting of all chief ministers soon after he wrote to them against the Centre’s notification.

(With inputs from PTI)
 

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