Cattle Market VS Meat Market

The environment Ministry on May 26, 2017 had notified the stringent Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017 derived from Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. These new rules promulgated by the notification were vehemently opposed by the State Governments of  West Bengal, Kerala etc. and United Progressive Alliances on the ground that the restrictions on the sale and ban on slaughter of cattle would affect the livelihood of lakhs of poor people and this restriction would lead to communal friction, apart from its impact on the agricultural economy. Further this will also affect the meat trade and connected leather trade etc. Meat Eaters will be affected and hence their rights of food preferences  being taken away by this notification, it may be tantamount an attack on their fundamental rights – both in the realm of food habits and also of pursuit of free trades.

To show their protests and anger, the opponents of this notification had resorted to Beef Festivals  and also slaughter of cows in public places. Rijil Makkutty, Youth Congress’s Kannur Mandal President had shown his party’s opposition to the notification by arranging to slaughter a young cow in public place surrounded by his party followers and raising slogans and distributing the slaughtered meat to the members present. 

Worst, the butchered head of the poor baby cow with still flowing blood was taken in a procession round the streets of Kerala in some cases. 

It is really soothing gesture from Rahul Gandhi condemning outright this ghastly slaughter of a cow in his twitter account. But in Kerala, Congress Party Workers had not obeyed the dictate of their Vice President and hence slaughtering of cows, distribution of its meat are being reported from some parts of Kerala by Congress Party Workers with their party flags duly displayed at the sites, apart from Beef Festivals being conducted with much fanfares.

Now let us come to the basic.

Why do the centre issue this new notification with guidelines to prevent sale of cows and other bovines for slaughter at markets?

The answer to the question is given as under by the Centre:

The new notification is only to comply with the directive of the Supreme Court to the government to form an inter ministerial committee to recommend ways of preventing cattle smuggling.

But, the Supreme Directive itself was in response to a 2004 writ petition by Gauri Mulekhi of People for Animals. Some had raised objections on the writ petition of  Ms Maulekhi on the ground that she is backed by Maneka Gandhi, as Gauri Mulekhi is a trustee of People for Animals or PFA, an NGO started by Menaka, Union Minister for Women and Child Development and hence the writ petition itself is politically motivated.

When the Apex court gives directions, it is the duty of the Government to implement the guidelines and if some have been affected, they are free to seek the intervention of the Court. Hence some had gone to the court for stay of the notification – but Kerala and Rajasthan Courts had rejected the pleas, but, the Madras Court had  admitted the pleas. The net outcome will be known only in due course.

The main thrust in the notification is this: Cattle market will be hereafter only for farmers and not for meat traders as hitherto. Buyers of cattle at animal markets will have to verify they are agriculturists and declare that they will not sell the animal for a period of 6 months from the date of purchase.  Cattle purchased from animal markets should not be sold outside the State, without permission.

To inhibit smuggling, animal markets may not function within 25 kilometres of a State border and 50 kilometres of an international border.  Due to this notification, Butchers can buy cattle only from individuals and agricultural forms and not from cattle fairs or markets.  As of now, cattle means bulls, cows, buffaloes, steers, heifers and camels. In view of the protests, the centre seems to remove buffaloes from the list. 

Article 370 pertaining to accession of Jammu and Kashmir and Article 48 pertaining to prohibition of cow slaughter have become the permanent block spots of our constitution ever since they were brought into operation. Some legal experts feel that Article 370 has taken on the features of a permanent provision, despite being titled a temporary provision in the Constitution.  Since the Constituent Assembly then and dissolved thereafter  did not make any recommendation to the President on the matter of the repeal of the Article 370, it cannot be touched  now– no abrogation, repeal or amendment.    

In the same way, though there were moves to bring Cow Slaughter under centre list in the constitution or more so in Fundamental Rights for easy and effective implementation, Article 48 was brought under the Directive Principles – leaving the implementation options to  various States with conflicting interests due to predominance in caste, religion and food habits.

Further Cow is considered as the sacred symbol for Hindu religion, while Cow Meat is being sought by the Muslims in general. Hence, protection of cow and slaughter of cow had become Hindu-Muslim Religious Conflicts, ever since the first Muslim Monarch started his rein in our Akand Bharat.

The real issue of cruelty to cattle – in the slaughter houses, in their transportation, in their upkeep etc. – was lost in the din of controversies of meat eating etc. 

Actually, Kerala High Court had observed: “Notification did not ban slaughtering of cattle. It  only prohibited the sale of cattle at animal markets. The rules do not go beyond that. There was no restriction on selling cattle from home or other places. One could sell and slaughter cattle and eat their meat. Read the rules and read the rules to the people, if you are a public spirited person.”  

With these observations, the Kerala  judge dismissed  the petition against the centre. 

Let us not forget that India is the land of Budha and Land of Ahimsa – Beef Festival is nothing but to insult the majority of Vegetarians.  

Eat anything within the four walls of your House.  

Think India Think.