New Delhi/ June.15: The central government Thursday conveyed it to the Supreme Court that it won’t push the states to enforce a controversial notification banning the sale of cattle for slaughter at animal markets and sparked nationwide protests.
The response came during the hearing of a petition challenging the cattle trade rules and against the backdrop of the Madras high court putting the order on temporary hold two weeks ago.
“There is no beef ban in the country today… in view of the interim order by the Madras high court, the central government is of the view that the rules are stayed across the country,” said additional solicitor general P Narsimha.
The controversial notification triggered protests and beef fests across India with several states – such as Kerala and West Bengal – saying they wouldn’t implement the order as the Centre couldn’t dictate food habits. Critics alleged that the government was pushing in a beef ban through the backdoor and even some of the ruling BJP’s own allies in the northeast – where beef is part of the daily diet – raised objections.
