Thiruvananathpauram: CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan on Thursday said the state government will bring a legislation to protect the right of people to have their choice of food. He was inaugurating the Raj Bhavan march organised by LDF to protest the ‘anti-people’ policies of the Centre and the curbs imposed on sale of cattle for slaughter. “If the Centre failed to amend the notification imposing stringent conditions on sale of cattle then the state government will formulate a legislation to protect the interests of the people,” he said.
The CPM leader accused the Centre of implementing Sangh Parivar agenda in the country to curb the rights of people. The Centre’s decision is also aimed at protecting the interests of corporate engaged in export of beef and other meat products, he said. Kodiyeri said the stringent restrictions imposed by the Centre would hit the farmers hard, adversely affecting the rural economy. Besides, it will also render jobless lakhs of people engaged in the slaughter houses, meat industry and leather industry in the country.
LDF leaders pointed out that the Centre was not empowered to frame rules for regulating cattle markets. Under the Constitution, the State List item No 15 referred to preservation, protection and improvement of stock and prevention of animal diseases. They alleged under the garb of prevention of cruelty to animals, the Centre was depriving the people of their right to work and right to do trade.
The LDF leadership said meat eating was not restricted to any particular religion. People belonging to all religions have been consuming meat from pre-historic period. By enforcing a ban the Modi Government was infringing on the rights of people to eat the food of their choice. It said meat especially beef was the main food which provided nutrition to the poor of the country. They called upon people across the country should raise their voice against such uncivilised actions.
