Kerala state has taken a stewardship role in denouncing the decision of the BJP-led government at the Centre to issue a blanket ban on cow slaughter in India. The notification by the Environment Ministry issued under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act bans the sale of cattle for slaughter across the country.
Since the ban, the chorus of people cutting across political parties has been getting louder with many coming forward to express incongruity of the order. However, the state BJP leadership stood by the decision of the government. BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan accused the political leaders and the media of distorting the contents of the notification.
Celebrities from the film industry were among those to voice their dissent. Apart from the protests, the LDF-government in Kerala is in talks with legal experts to challenge the latest order issued by the Centre. A big chunk of Kerala's population comprises meat eaters and the state is free from taboos or religious beliefs usually associated with consumption of beef in India, especially the cow belt.
Taking the lead, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has come down strongly on the Centre and accused the government of destroying the secular fabric of the country by imposing a ban on the sale of cattle for slaughter.
The CM while reacting to the ban noted: "People of all faiths have been consuming meat since time immemorial. By prohibiting slaughter, the Government is meddling with the people's right to consume whatever food they prefer to. We need to take note of the fact that meat is the main source of protein for poor and ordinary people in this country. It is precisely why this is an attack on the poor people of this country."
In his rallying plea, CM Pinarayi Vijayan called on people across the country to rise and show their discontent with such draconian measures.
"Once the prohibition comes into effect, raw material for the leather industry will not be available anymore. More than 2.5 million people work in India's leather industry. Most of them are Dalits. Hence, this prohibition will severely affect the disadvantaged sections of our society," noted the CM.
Various leaders have also expressed their dismay at the ban. While the local bodies minister K. T. Jaleel termed the ban "unacceptable", Kerala Agriculture Minister VS Sunil Kumar, emphasised that the state will resort to legal course.
"The Centre has taken undue advantage of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and has misused it. By this move, the Central government, in practice, is banning the consumption of meat, which is not acceptable," he noted.
Other leaders have also weighed in. Calling himself a vegetarian, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor too expressed his displeasure.
"I object strongly to the ban on cow slaughter. Gandhiji had objected to imposing one's view on others. Freedom is being eroded," he reacted.
Taking a dig at the Centre, VT Balram, an MLA of Thrithala Constituency opined that, the government should have first verified if there was enough food for the people of the nation before taking such an action.
CPI-M state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan on his part said the ban is a declaration of intent to implement "Manu Smriti" in the country. "The ban, which comes at a time when the country is set to welcome Ramzan is part of the government's polarisation and divisive agenda," he noted.
His views were shared by KPCC president M.M. Hassan who criticised the decision as going against the Constitution and gross encroachment on the fundamental rights.
"It is an outright violation of human rights. Banning cow, buffalo slaughter, especially in states such as Kerala, is denying the people their right to eat. Since there is no law that prohibits cow slaughter in Kerala, we will not allow for this regulation to come into practice," he noted.
Meanwhile, the Student Federation of India (SFI) will protest against the ban by organising beef festivals across the State of Kerala on Saturday, May 27.
