Mamata opposes curbs on slaughter

Mangalore Today News Network

Thiruvananthapuram,May 30 2017: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday described the Centre’s notification on cattle slaughter as a “deliberate attempt to encroach upon the state’s powers”, and said her government would not accept it.

The Union government had last week banned the sale and purchase of cattle from animal markets for slaughter.

The environment ministry had notified the stringent Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017, under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

“We will challenge it legally. We will consult the state’s advocate general on this matter. I will request the Centre not to interfere with state matter,” she told a press conference at the state secretariat.

“It (Centre) is an elected government and it has its jurisdiction. The state government is also an elected government and it has its jurisdiction,” Mamata said.

“It is a deliberate attempt to encroach upon the state’s powers. It is undemocratic, unconstitutional and unethical. It is also an attempt to destroy the federal structure,” she said.

In a crucial move aimed at mobilising pan-India support against the Centre’s curbs on the sale of cattle for slaughter, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday wrote to other chief ministers, seeking to form a united Opposition against the restrictions.

“Unless we stand together and oppose this anti-federal, anti-democratic and anti-secular move, it may mark the beginning of a series of similar measures aimed at destroying the federal democratic fabric and secular culture of our country,” the chief minister stated in his letter.

Vijayan said since the matter falls within the purview of state legislatures, the governments may be allowed to formulate policies and laws to suit the socio-cultural and economic milieu of the respective state.

He said the “unreasonable” restrictions on the fundamental right to carry out any trade or occupation will not stand the test of constitutionality.

Courtesy: DHNS