A countrywide row over new rules restricting the sale of cattle yesterday seemed to have forced the government to rethink.
In the wake of stiff opposition from some states, including Kerala, to the new rules, the central government is likely to exempt buffaloes from the ‘no slaughter’ list, an official said.
“We have received some representations over the list of animals included (in the new rules). We are working on it,” A N Jha, secretary in the Environment Ministry, said.
In a bid to prevent cruelty to animals, the ministry on May 26 modified rules making it mandatory to ensure that cattle are not bought or sold at cattle markets for slaughtering.
The list of animals includes cows, bulls, buffaloes, heifers, calves as well as camels.
Ever since the notification, there have been widespread protests in various states, especially Kerala, one of the states where cow slaughter is not banned.
The youth wing of the Congress Party caused outrage after killing a calf in public in Kerala to protest against the controversial ban.
Members of the Youth Congress were filmed slaughtering the animal – officials refused to say if it was a cow or an ox – and shouting anti-government slogans in the state.
Police accused the youths of “causing a public nuisance”.
“We are investigating. It is a sensitive issue,” a police officer said without giving details.
Activists of the state’s ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) held over 300 “beef festivals” where cooked beef was freely served.
With both the main political fronts in Kerala opposing the ban, the state cabinet will tomorrow announce a date for an all-party meeting to discuss the issue.
“This is a question of the livelihood for thousands of farmers in the state and has been in practice for ages. We will take up this issue in the cabinet meeting and don’t be surprised if Kerala initiates legal steps against the new law,” Agriculture Minister V S Sunilkumar said in Thiruvananthapuram.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) appears to be the only party in Kerala which has accepted the central government’s directive on cattle slaughter.
“The new law has been misunderstood by the other parties,” BJP state general secretary K Surendran said.
The Congress Party swiftly condemned the inflammatory protest in Kerala and suspended those involved.
“What happened in Kerala yesterday is thoughtless, barbaric and completely unacceptable to me and the Congress Party. I strongly condemn the incident,” Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi posted on Twitter.
In Kolkata, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee termed the amended rules “unconstitutional” and said the decision would be challenged legally by her government.
“This is a destructive attitude to federal structure, unnecessary bulldozing, encroaching and interference to federal structure. We are not accepting that. We will challenge it legally and constitutionally for interference in state power,” she said.
However the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) warned the Congress and the CPM that they would “face the ire of public”.
In some parts of India, vigilantes have attacked those suspected to be transporting the animals to abattoirs.
Hindu hardliners yesterday assaulted two meat traders in Maharashtra for alleged possession of beef – despite it being legal under that state’s laws.
The ban threatens $4bn in annual beef exports and millions of jobs if the government does not revoke it, according to two industry officials.




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