Amid criticism from all quarters for butchering a calf in public in Kerala, the Youth Congress worker in Kerala who led the butchering has now said that he had his boss, Youth Congress state president Dean Kuriakose's, permission.
The Indian Express reported Rijil Makkutty as saying, "He did not only not object to our idea (but) also wanted YC to strongly protest against the notification. Although there are reports that I was suspended among three leaders, the YC is yet to get any order in this regard."
Led by Makkutty, Youth Congress leaders had butchered a calf publicly on the streets of Kannur, in Kerala, to protest the Centres ban on sale of cattle for slaughtering.
Kerala is a state where there is no ban on slaughtering of cows.
And while Makkutty claims that Kuriakose was aware of the barbaric butchering, The Indian Express reports that he denied Makkutty's claims and said that he had not suggested the Youth Congress workers any specific way in which to protest.
Amid protests against the blanket slaughter ban, the Centre may be mulling on whether to remove buffaloes from the list.
"We have received some representations over the list of animals included (in the new cattle slaughter rules). We are working on it," AN Jha, Secretary in the Union Environment Ministry, told IANS.
As of now the list of animals that cannot be bought or sold for slaughter through cattle markets includes cows, bulls, buffaloes, heifers, calves and camels.
Meanwhile, chief ministers of Kerala and West Bengal, both states where there is no ban on cow slaughter, have made clear that they will not accept the Centre's decision.
The Hindustan Times quoted Mamata Banerjee as saying, "We won't accept the Centre's decision ... it is unconstitutional."
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan has written to chief ministers of all the states. In his letter, as reported by The Hindustan Times, he has said, "Unless we stand together and oppose this anti-federal, anti-democratic and anti-secular move, it may mark the beginning of a series of similar measures aimed at destroying the federal democratic fabric and secular culture of our country. I would therefore fervently appeal to you to convey your objection to the 2017 Rules under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act to the Prime Minister, and to request him to withdraw the Rules introduced without any consultation with the States."
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