The Centre’s new rules regulating cattle trade were an infringement on the people’s right to food of their choice, and against all principles of democracy and federalism, said a resolution passed by the Kerala Assembly on Thursday.

Piloting the resolution, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the new cattle trade rules had affected lives and livelihood of an estimated five lakh people in the State.

All legislators, except the lone BJP member, O Rajagopal, supported the resolution and spoke against the ‘Centre’s high-handedness’ in the matter.

Pinarayi, who has sought to position himself at the helm of, what a CPI(M) spokesman called, “mounting voice of dissent from non-BJP-ruled States”, proposes to call a meeting of like-minded Chief Ministers here to plan and co-ordinate protests at the national level.

Mani’s poser

Another member who differed with the general sentiment was KM Mani, leader of Kerala Congress (M), which sits as a separate block after having broken away from the Congress-led United Democratic Front.

The many-time former finance minister said he failed to understand the need for a discussion when it was clear that the new rules would not affect the interest of the State; besides, the matter is sub judice, he argued.

Mani is reportedly being courted by the State unit of the NDA as part of its expansion plans.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said the welfare of cattle, as well as their slaughter came under the purview of the States, and the Centre had no right to dictate terms on the matter.

Rules senseless, says VS

Senior party colleague and former CM VS Achuthanandan too came down heavily on the Sangh Parivar for precipitating what he described as ‘senseless’ new rules. “This amounts to a big fraud. Only the a motley group of self-seeking godmen has supported the new cattle trade rules for reasons best known to them,” Achuthanandan said.

The State consumes around 2.50 lakh tonnes of beef worth ₹6,500 crore every year. It ferries in an estimated 15 lakh cattle to ply the business. Any decision to abruptly stop it would hit consumers and those employed in the sector.

People should be encouraged to produce value-added beef, which would yield precious export earnings for the country. The BJP is trying to bring in corporate houses to engage here.

Meanwhile, the Opposition United Democratic Front spared no punches in its criticism of the new rules. Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala led the charge with a hard-hitting speech against the Centre and the BJP.

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