On Saturday, Kerala witnessed a number of beef festivals across the state conducted by different political organisations that were protesting against the central government's new rules.
The new rules under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act ban the sale of cattle for slaughter in animal markets.
In Thiruvananthapuram, the DYFI (Democratic Youth Federation of India) - youth wing of CPI (M), cooked beef in front of Kerala Secretariat while Student Federation of India (SFI) district unit conducted beef festival outside Kerala University.
In Kollam, the district Congress committee conducted beef festival apart from SFI. Bindu Krishna, Kollam DCC president, said that a portion of cooked beef should be sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Kerala Students Union (KSU) distributed beef curry outside Ernakulam BJP office around 11am while SFI and DYFI conducted the fest outside Town Hall.
SFI’s beef fest in Town Hall area was inaugurated by Minister for Co-operation, Tourism and Devaswoms, Kadakampally Surendran.
Cooked beef was also distributed in Cochin University campus and Kalady Sanskrit University in Ernakulam district.
In Malappuram, instead of cooked beef, Youth Congress distributed raw beef meat to the public as a form of protest.
Youth Congress committee of Alamkode and Nannammukku jointly conducted the protest. A lot of people gathered to buy meat.
SFI had organised beef festivals in all districts at their different units. Some of the fests were organised in the morning and some are to be held in the evening.
However, a large number of people gathered at every venue to participate in all the fests.
Soon after the Centre’s new rule was reported by media on Friday, SFI had announced that they would conduct beef fests at 210 centres. The fests were organised by the respective SFI area committee units.
Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said that he had sent a letter to the central government against the rule.
In the letter, CM had reportedly mentioned that that central government cannot decide on what people should eat and that it would render many people jobless.
Congress plans to observe Monday as a black day protesting against the rule.
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Photos : Sreekesh Raveendran Nair