Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) working president M.K. Stalin on Friday condemned the Centre’s order banning sale of cows and buffaloes for slaughter through animal markets, saying the move had negated freedom of religion, individual freedom, secularism and all other rights guaranteed in the Constitution.
In a statement, he alleged that the move was aimed at diverting people’s attention from the Centre’s failure to implement its electoral promises including the eradication of corruption, creation of employment opportunities, industrial development and protection of the Constitution.
Recalling the Supreme Court’s decision, on a public interest litigation filed by Delhi-based Vineet Sahay, not to ban the slaughter of cattle, Mr. Stalin said that the Centre’s notification, notwithstanding the apex court’s stand, clearly showed that it had not only snatched the rights of minority communities and farmers, but also sought to change the secular face of the country.
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Accusing the Centre of infringing on the rights of States in this matter, he said, “While cattle is on the State list, the law to prevent cruelty to animals is on the concurrent list. Be it jallikattu or the ban on selling animals for slaughter, the Centre has deliberately encroached upon the rights of the State government. This is against federalism and clearly shows that the BJP-led Central government is not interested in promoting the Centre-State relationship.”
The DMK leader said that such moves by the Centre would lead to a situation wherein the State government would not be in a position to enact any law.
Demanding the withdrawal of the ban in the interest of the pluralistic nature of the country, he said that the government could not deny the fundamental rights of the people over choice of food.
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“The government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi should not indulge in any activities that will shake the fundamentals of the Indian Constitution,” he said.
‘Political mileage’
The CPI (M) also called for the rollback of the Centre’s notification banning cattle slaughter.
In a statement, party state secretary G. Ramakrishnan accused the Central government of trying to divide the country and gain political mileage by implementing such rules.