Government Set To Drop Plan To Ban Sale Of Cattle For Slaughter In Animal Markets, Says Report

The government is set to drop its plan to notify a ban on the sale of cattle for slaughter in animal markets, the Indian Express has reported, citing a senior official from Ministry of Environment and Forests.

The decision, according to the daily’s report, was taken after the Ministry asked state governments to give feedback on its notification on changes made to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Market) Rules, 2017.

“We sent a file to the Ministry of Law earlier this week, stating that we are withdrawing the notification due to several issues and will be revising it,” the Indian Express report quoted the official as saying.

In June, the government had said it was open to suggestions from various groups on the 23 May cattle slaughter notification and was not viewing it as a prestige issue. Vardhan had said the intention behind the notification was not to harm any particular group, influence food habits or affect the slaughter business.

Indicating for the first time that the Centre may lift the ban, the Environment Minister had said that “the government does not intend to directly or indirectly affect the slaughterhouses or harm farmers”.

Also Read: Restrictions On Cattle Sale Will Hurt Farmers Badly