Beaf politics turns ugly in Kerala .

Kerala Congress Youth activist butchers calf to protest cattle slaughter ban


May 28, 2017 | 21:34 IST | SOURCE : Times Now, Agencies

Kannur: The Centre's decision to ban sale and purchase of cattle from animal markets for slaughter has triggered a massive debate between the centre and states.

While the centre has backed the new rules, saying that they are specific and aim to regulate animal markets and sale of cattle, the opposition called it an attack on the 'Right to choose'.

In light of the centre's move, police in Kerala on Sunday booked a few Youth Congress activists who allegedly publicly butchered a calf to protest the Centre's ban on the sale of cattle for slaughter.

Read: No cattle sale for slaughter: How it affects India financially

Kerala BJP president Kummanam Rajasekharan, who posted the video of the 'gory' incident on Twitter, called it, 'cruelty at its peak', and said no normal person can behave in this manner.

Congress Vice-president, Rahul Gandhi, meanwhile condemned the incident in his tweet.



CPI(M) MP M B Rajesh said the illogical form of protest should have been avoided as it would only help the Sangh Parivar.

Congress looked to distance itself from the incident saying the party will not support anyone who has violated the law. However, the Youth Congress activist who led the protest said he had no regrets.

The calf slaughter was committed in front of a huge crowd in Kannur on Saturday during the 'Beef Fest' held by the Left and Congress in Kerala to protest against the Centre's ban.

On the basis of a complaint received from Yuva Morcha district General Secretary C C Ratheesh, police on Sunday registered a case against Rijil Makulti, the Youth Congress worker, and others under Section 120 A of the Kerala Police Act, police sources said.

The offence deals with slaughtering any animal in a way that causes annoyance or inconvenience to the public and is punishable with imprisonment up to one year or a fine of up to five thousand rupees or with both.

Read: Cow slaughter ban: Centre's move criticised by Kerala CM, CPI terms it 'unwise'

"If anyone has violated the law then he should be dealt with accordingly and the Congress party will not support him. However, we need to first establish whether the person in the video is related to the party or not," said Congress Spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi at a press briefing in Delhi.

Rijil Makulti told a television channel on Sunday, "We don't regret our act. This was done as part of our protest."

The 18-month-old animal was slaughtered in an open vehicle as Youth Congress workers raised slogans against the Centre's decision to ban the sale of cattle for slaughter. The meat was then distributed free to the people around.

Congress leader Pandalam Sudhakaran said the manner in which the calf was dragged for being slaughtered 'left a pain in the heart'. It is difficult to accept such mode of protests, he added.

CPI(M) MP Rajesh said the youth workers should have exhibited 'civilised behaviour'.

BJP state President Rajasekharan while condemning the incident, said DYFI and Youth Congress, youth outfits of CPI(M) and Congress, were turning 'butchers' and people should be careful.

The Centre has banned the sale and purchase of cattle from animal markets for slaughter, a move that is expected to hit export and trade of meat and leather.

Kerala calf slaughter row: How ban on cattle sale turned into a full blown political controversy
On May 26, the Centre notified a new regulation banning sale of cattle for slaughter across the country. To protest the Centre's decision, Youth Congress leaders slaughtered a calf in Kerala. They now have been booked for cruelty against animal.


HIGHLIGHTS
1Centre notified new regulation on ban of sale of cattle for slaughter on May 26.
2Youth Congress workers slaughtered a calf in Kerala.
3Police book 16 people for killing the animal.
Police have registered case against youth Congress leaders and the Congress party has suspended them for organising beef fest and open slaughter of a calf at Kerala's Kannur.
The youth Congress and the CPI-M leaders had organised a beef fest to protest the Centre's new regulations prohibiting sale of cattle for slaughter.
Kerala is one of the states in the country where cow slaughter is not banned.
CENTRE'S NOTIFICATION
On May 26, the Union Environment and Forest Ministry issued new guidelines banning sale of cattle for slaughter in animal fair.
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017 states, "No person shall bring a cattle to an animal market unless upon arrival he has furnished a written declaration signed by the owner of the cattle - stating the name and address of the owner of the cattle, with a copy of the photo identification proof, giving details of the identification of the cattle and stating that the cattle has not been brought to market for sale for slaughter."
Under the new regulation cattle means a bovine animal including bulls, bullocks, cows, buffalos, steers, heifers and calves. It also includes camels in its ambit.
The Centre's notification described an animal market as a marketplace or sale-yard to which animals are brought from other places and exposed for sale or auction and includes any area adjoining a market or a slaughterhouse.
PROTEST FROM VARIOUS QUARTERS
Though, the Environment and Forest Ministry called the new regulation a right step in the direction of animal welfare, the political parties slammed the Centre for 'imposing' RSS' ideology on eating habits of people.
In a Facebook post, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan called it an 'uncivilised decision'. Vijayan called for a nationwide protest against what he called an attempt to destroy the secular fabric of the country.
Kerala CM Vijayan further said, "If they banned the slaughter of cattle today, tomorrow they will ban the consumption of fish."
The CPI called the Centre's notification as 'most unwise' decision. CPI general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy said, "This (ban on sale of cattle for slaughter) will be totally unacceptable to crores and crores of people in the country. Forcible vegetarianism will do no good to the nation."
Congress leader from Kerala Shashi Tharoor took to Twitter and invoked Mahatma Gandhi to oppose the ban on sale of cattle for slaughter.

The protest against the ban on sale of cattle for slaughter was not only limited to politicians. The All India Meat and Livestock Exporters Association (AIMLEA) said that the decision would hit the farmers adversely.
AIMLEA spokesperson Fauzan Alavi said in Lucknow that only "the unproductive cattle arrive in large number for sale in these markets as their feasibility virtually ceases to exist while the per day maintenance cost goes up."
Alavi further said that the high yielding milching animals rarely arrive at the cattle market for sale.
"The per day cost incurred on a buffalo ranges from Rs 125 to Rs 150, while the general price of the milk sold is Rs 40 per litre. If the per day milk production dips, then gradually the cattle becomes unproductive," he said.
WHAT HAPPENED IN KANNUR
While the protests were being organised at various places across the country and so many people were taking to social media registering their opposition to the Centre's move, the Left and youth Congress leaders decided to hold a beef fest at Kannur in Kerala.
Police have registered a case against 16 Youth Congress activists including Rejil Makulti for slaughtering a cow in public and cooked its meat and distributed it.
According to reports, an 18-month-old calf was slaughtered in an open vehicle as Youth Congress workers raised slogans against the ban on sale of cattle for slaughter. Makulti and other Youth Congress leaders allegedly distributed the meat to people around for free.
The incident invited criticism from several quarters including the Congress high command. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi called this act barbaric.

However, Rejil Makulti told a news channel that "We don't regret our act. This was done as part of our protest."
Beef is considered a staple diet for many families in Kerala. The state has little less than 25 per cent Muslim population. Many also questioned the timing - two days ahead of the beginning of the month of Ramzan - of Centre's notification for ban on sale of cattle for slaughter.
BEEF FEST IN IIT MADRAS
In a related development, more than 80 students of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) organised beef festival on the campus to protest Centre's new regulation on cattle sale.
The protesters called the ban on sale of cattle for slaughter 'Food Fascism'.
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kerala-calf-slaughter-ban-on-cattle-sale/1/965437.html

hi

i think...both sides are truly extreme behaviors......poor calf/cattle.....butchers enjoying opportunity...