Thiruvananthapuram: Political parties cutting across ideological differences came out strongly against Centre’s ban on sale of cattle for slaughtering with SFI deciding to organise beef festivals on Saturday to protest against the decision. However, BJP sought to justify the decision saying that the ban was only on sale of cattle used for agriculture purposes. CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said the Centre's decision to ban sale of cattle for slaughter is part of its proclamation to implement Manu Smrithi across the country.
Kodiyeri said at a time when the nation was preparing to observe Ramzan the prime minister who is an RSS pracharak and his cohorts had come out with this order. The decision hinted at communally destructive activities which are in store, he said. CPM leader alleged that the government controlled by RSS was coming out with decisions to polarise people on religious lines. The democratic and secular forces across the country should come out strongly against the divisive decision. Local bodies minister K. T. Jaleel said the Centre's decison to ban cattle sale for slaughter is totally unacceptable.
Forest Minister K. Raju said he would examine the Centre's directive. Oppositon leader Ramesh Chennithala said the Centre Decisoin was an attempt to curb the rights of the citizens. This is the latest example of Modi Governemnt's fascist agenda of curbing the democratic rights of people. He called upon the people to come together to oppose the divisive decision. Veteran CPM leader V. S. Achuthanandan said the Centre's decision was an attack on federal structure of the country. He called upon the people to fight against the fascist forces. BJP state president Kumanam Rajashekharan said that the centre's notification had only restricted slaughter of cattle used for agriculture purposes. “There is no ban on slaughtering cattle for consumption.”
Keralites shocked
The Union Government decision to impose a ban on the sale of cattle for slaughter has sent shockwaves across the supply chain of meat industry in Kerala, where 70 percent of the 3.5 crore population are meat eaters. The consumption of meat and fish in the state is one of the highest in the country and it has an average daily turnover Rs 16 crore in beef trade alone, sources said. According to government sources, the annual consumption of beef and buffalo meat in the state is around 2.5 lakh tonnes with beef accounting for 1.5 lakh tonnes and buffalo meat constituting the rest. Nearly 70 percent of the cattle needed for meat is brought from outside and the new restrictions may disrupt the supply chain.
Ajmal Ahammed of Edavanna in Kozhikode district told this newspaper that the move will push hundreds of cattle traders into financial crisis as most of them have huge stocks in connection with the beginning of Ramadan. “It is a regular practice for traders to source as many cattle as possible before Ramadan as they can take rest during the month”, he said. Meat vendor Zachariya Mannil of Sulthan Bathery told DC that the move would hit thousands of people eking out a living with the trade. “We are upset with the decision,” he said and added that deliberations were on to how to tackle the crisis. The workers of IUML organized protest marches in Kozhikode, Malappuram and Wayanad districts.
Johnny, a city-based meat vendor in Thiruvananthapuram said about 50 percent of his customers belong to Hindu community. Saying that there was no justification on the restrictions imposed on the sale of cattle for slaughter, he asked whether the government would ban export of pork too. "Beef and buffalo meat is the most selling non-vegetarian item in the market. The high cost of fish and chicken makes beef a preferred dish of the common man," Johnny said. The government decision has also triggered strong criticism among city residents. "How can the government prescribe what one should eat? It is nothing but curbing the freedom of citizens," said K. Renjith, a city based-businessman. In Kochi, Youth Congress workers held a protest march before the BSNL office near Boat Jetty against the decision of the union government.
