THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:The Union Government’s ban on sale of cows and buffaloes for slaughter is part of a move to implement the RSS agenda in the state, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said.
“India is home to various religions and cultures. Plurality is the spirit of Indian democracy,” the Chief Minister said on Friday.
“Until now, the Sangh Parivar has been unleashing attacks in different parts of the country over the issue of cow slaughter. The current ban is applicable to bull, ox, buffalo and camel. Crores of people in the country kill these animals for food,” he said.
Pinarayi said meat eaters do not belong to any particular religion. “Members of all religions have been consuming meat from pre-historic times. With the slaughter ban, the Modi Government has laid hands on people’s eating habits,” he said.
There should be a countrywide protest against the decision, he said. The Chief Minister said the current decision also questions the country’s federalism. “The Centre should have sought the opinion of states on this matter before imposing a countrywide ban,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the decision would also result in huge employment loss and create shortage of raw material in the leather industry. “Over 25 lakh people are engaged in the leather industry, of which a good majority are Dalits,” he said.
“Instead of preventing the Sangh Parivar from attacking cattle transporters, the Centre has banned cattle slaughter. This shows the RSS is controlling the administration,” he said.
With the slaughter ban, the Modi Government has laid hands on people’s eating habits. The Centre should have sought the opinion of states before imposing a countrywide ban Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister