Congress leader welcomes SC suspension of cattle slaughter ban

Kerala's Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala on Tuesday welcomed the Supreme Court order putting on hold the Centre's notification that banned the sale and purchase of cattle for slaughter at the cattle markets.

The Madras High Court had earlier suspended the operation of the Centre's notification on relevant rules, which the apex court has now extended across the country.

The Congress leader and former state Minister said he wholeheartedly welcomed the suspension of the ban order.

"This notification is nothing but an infringement of the right of the people on what to eat. Besides, it would have deeply hurt the agrarian community. In the name of protecting cattle, it was practically leading to mayhem and hooliganism," Chennithala said.

The Centre had on May 25 issued the notification, which was opposed by several states.

The Kerala assembly last month passed a resolution on the issue, with the lone Bharatiya Janata Party legislator O. Rajagopal opposing it.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote to Chief Ministers of various state to take the stand that the Centre should not infringe upon the rights of the state and not act arbitrarily when it comes to issues where the states have a stake.

--IANS

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