Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has asked Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to seek “better ways to strengthen federalism” rather than writing to other Chief Ministers on restrictions on cattle trade.
Mr. Vijayan had written to his counterparts in the country highlighting that the Centre’s move was an infringement on the rights of State governments.
Responding to mediapersons on the issue here on Sunday, Mr. Prasad said he did not wish to interfere with the freedom of the Chief Minister in this regard. However, Mr. Vijayan and the CPI(M) should allow other parties to function smoothly in the State if Mr. Vijayan believed in strengthening federalism.
Open to suggestions
Kerala had always been open to changes and this was the State which democratically elected the first communist government. People should have the liberty to experiment with the BJP.
On the issue of cattle trade, Mr. Prasad said the government did not interfere with eating habits but attempted to regulate trade of cattle. The government was open to suggestions on the issue, he said.
The Centre would support the State to set up an electronic cluster at Kakkanad in Kochi and would provide ₹50 crore for setting up basic infrastructure facilities there, he said. Also, the State would get Central help for developing an incubation centre on 30,000 sq ft.