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By APD Writer Rishika Chauhan
NEW DELHI, May 31 (APD) - The Madras high court on Tuesday issued a stay order on central government’s rule of banning sale of cattle for slaughter at animal markets.
The central government’s decision of banning cattle slaughter all across the country is being understood by many scholars as an attack on India’s federal structure, as the provinces have been given sufficient freedom in the Constitution of India.
The stay order is valid for four-weeks, in the meantime the central government is evaluating the objections raised by provinces like Kerala and West Bengal.
The central government is being accused of attempting to change and regulate the food habits of people. To protest against the decision, many beef festivals have been organized in the last few weeks in provinces of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. However, the central government has denied the allegation of restricting food habits of the people.
Cow is considered a holy animal by the followers of Hindu religion. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), an organization close to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been pressing the government to ban cow slaughter across India.
However, the critics argue that the rule of banning the sale of cattle— cows, bulls, bullocks, buffaloes, steers, heifers, calves, and camels for slaughter, is against individual rights and will have an adverse effect on cattle and meat traders.
“The slaughtering of animals for food, the food and culinary (items) made out of such animal flesh and offering sacrifice of animals are part of cultural identity of most communities in India, protected under the Constitution,” the petition submitted to the high court stated.
While many people in the northern provinces do not consume beef and buffalo meat, such food items are a common delicacy in many of the provinces in Southern and Northeastern India.
The rule is also discriminatory towards followers of other religions. Many Muslims, Christians and lower-caste Hindus consume beef and buffalo meat and it is also cheap compared to other types of meat.
Reacting to the center’s decision, the chief minister of West Bengal recently said, “What someone will eat is his or her personal choice. No one has the right to dictate. Don’t follow that order. The state has not given any such order. The administration should ensure that there is no confusion.”
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
