New Delhi/ Kolkata/ Chennai: Facing flak from several states over its cattle slaughter ban order, the government is considering tweaking the rules to exempt buffaloes from the ban.
But the move may sharpen the opposition charge that the beef order is more to protect the holy cow from the butcher than save the unwary consumer from eating a sick animal bought at the shandy.
Several state governments, particularly West Bengal and Kerala, have attacked the Centre over the regulations. The DMK has threatened to start a nationwide
agitation from May 31.
Trinamul Congress boss and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said her government was likely to challenge it in court and that she was going to consult the state advocate-general.
“I will request the Centre not to interfere with states' matters and destroy the federal structure,” Ms Banerjee added.
Protests, meanwhile, erupted across Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal on Monday over the decision. A beef festival was also organised at the IIT Madras.
The notification issued by the environment ministry on May 23 restricted the sale or purchase of animals at shandies for only agriculture and not slaughter.
