THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Toughening the state’s stand against the Narendra Modi Government on the cattle trade issue, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday wrote to his counterparts across the country urging them to “stand together and oppose the anti-federal, anti-democratic, anti-secular move.”
Pinarayi appealed to all CMs to convey their objection to the Prime Minister and request him to withdraw the rule introduced without consulting the states. In the letter, the Kerala CM termed the notification as an ‘impermissible encroachment into the domain of the state legislatures.’
“Such a drastic measure producing serious consequences was introduced in exercise of the rule making power, surpassing the elected representatives of the people and avoiding any public debate. This is nothing but a negation of the democratic principles, which is indisputably accepted as forming part of the basic structure of the Constitution,” he said.
Referring to the notification containing the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017, issued by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Pinarayi said: “Since the matters dealt within the rules squarely fall within the purview of state legislatures, the state governments may be allowed to formulate necessary policies and laws to suit the respective socio-cultural and economic milieu.”
Pinarayi termed the notification a covert attempt to usurp the powers of state legislatures in the guise of rules under a Central Act. “The subjects covered by the Rules belong to entries 15 and 18 of the State List in the Constitution," Chief Minister said in his letter.