Krishna kumar, Thirunananthapuram, DH News Service May 31 2017, 16:12 IST
Asked if any date had been finalised for the proposed chief ministers' meeting, Vijayan said said they wanted it to be held at the earliest. DH File photo
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday said the CPM-led state government would move court to challenge the Centre’s restrictions on the sale of cattle for slaughter. Speaking with reporters here, the Chief Minister said a special Cabinet meeting would be held on Thursday to chalk out strategies on the issue.
The government, in consultation with the opposition parties, will also explore possibilities of convening a special Assembly session in this connection. “Since the new restrictions are in conflict with the federal structure of governance in the country, a meeting with all chief ministers is also proposed,” the Chief Minister said. Vijayan reiterated that the restrictions have infringed the state governments' powers on the matter.
Kerala has led the opposition against the Centre’s restrictions with Vijayan writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to repeal the notification. Later, he wrote to the chief ministers of other states in an effort to mobilise united opposition against the centre’s move. Groups cutting across political affiliations have also turned up on streets to organise beef festivals in a mark of protest against the curbs.
NO BAN ON SLAUGHTER, SAYS HC:On Wednesday, a division bench of the Kerala High Court observed that the May 23 notification issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) did not stipulate any ban on cattle slaughter.
The bench dismissed as withdrawn a public interest petition against the curbs, filed by Indian Youth Congress leader T G Sunil. It pointed out that the ban applied only to the sale of cattle for slaughter through livestock markets and there was no blanket ban on sale or slaughter of cattle. A proper reading of the notification would have avoided the row over its content, the bench observed. The HC’s observations, significantly, come a day after the Madras High Court bench in Madurai granted a four-week stay on the MoEF notification.