India: New move could hurt thousands of cattle traders

By Shuriah Niazi

NEW DELHI (AA) - Political parties in the southern Indian state of Kerala have come out strongly against Indian government’s move to impose a ban on the sale and purchase of cattle from animal markets for slaughter.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that thousands of people in India consume animal meat and it is not confined to a few communities either.

“Animal meat is the source of essential protein to a large population. Narendra Modi has interfered with people’s right to eat. If cattle is banned today, in future there could be a ban on eating fish,” said Pinarayi Vijayan.

Kerala is one state in India that slaughters more cattle than any other state in the country.

Meanwhile, Community Party State Secretary in Kerala, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan alleged that it is a motive to divide the country on communal lines.

“Such a notification was issued at a time when Muslims in the country are preparing to observe Ramadan. It will lead to serious issues in country's economy,” Balakrishnan said in a statement.

The Indian government on Friday banned the sale of cows and buffaloes in animal markets for slaughter. According to the new guidelines set by the Indian Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, one can only bring cattle to an open market after submitting a written declaration that the cattle will not be sold for the purpose of slaughter.

The new notification has banned the sale of bulls, bullocks, buffaloes, steers, heifers and camels also.

Cows are considered sacred in Hindu religion. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, many states in the country enacted harsher laws against cow slaughter.