Three Youth Congress activists were suspended in connection with the public butchering of a calf in Kannur district as part of a protest against the Centre’s ban on sale of cattle for slaughter.

YC Kannur district president Rijil Makkutty and activists Joshi Kandathil and Sharafuddin were suspended both from the YC and the Congress, party sources  said.

b’Three Youth Congress activists were suspended in connection with the public butchering of a calf in Kannur | Source: PTI’

The AICC in-charge of communications, Randeep Surjewala, said such action by Congress workers was “completely unacceptable” and was “alien to civil society, our culture and founding principles”.

“Anybody who has done so will have no place in the party and that’s why the workers have been already suspended by the Youth Congress.”

“Such elements have no place in the Congress or in our culture. Indian culture is not to cause harm to any living being, much less to the holy cow which we all celebrate and revere,” he said.

b’The AICC in-charge of communications, Randeep Surjewala | Source : PTI’

Surjewala, however, asked whether the BJP would give similar advice to BJP-ruled Goa and to its chief minister Manohar Parrikar, to Union minister Kiren Rijiju who has been “gloating” over similar incidents, or to other BJP-ruled states “where such incidents are common”.

The action came a day after party vice president Rahul Gandhi condemned the public slaughter of the animal. He termed the incident as “thoughtless and barbaric”, and said that it was “unacceptable” to him and his party.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president M M Hassan said that the action had dented the Youth Congress’ protest and the activists were suspended from the party.

“The public slaughter of the calf by the YC activists is against the Congress’ culture. The party condemns the incident,” Hassan told reporters.

What exactly happened:

Triggering a widespread row against Centre’s decision to ban sale of cattle, the Youth Congress workers had allegedly butchered the 18-month-old animal in full public view in an open vehicle and raised slogans against it.

b’the Youth Congress workers had allegedly butchered the 18-month-old animal in full public view | Source: PTI’

The meat was later distributed free of cost to onlookers.

Cutting across party barriers, a number of political leaders and cultural activists had come out against the gory protest.

On the basis of a complaint from a Yuva Morcha worker, the police registered a case against the YC activists under Section 120 A of the Kerala Police Act.

The offence deals with slaughter of any animal in a way that causes annoyance or inconvenience to the public and is punishable with imprisonment up to one year or a fine of up to Rs 5,000 or both.

b’Congress asked whether the BJP would give similar advice to BJP-ruled Goa and to its chief minister Manohar Parrikar | Source :PTI’

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president M M Hassan also demanded that the government convene a special Assembly session and formulate a new legislation to overcome the Union government’s notification.

Congress workers would stage a protest march before the Raj Bhavan here on June 1, demanding withdrawal of the Centre’s notification, he said.

The KPCC president also alleged that the Centre was trying to snatch away the fundamental rights of the people to eat food of their choice through its latest decision.

(Feature Image Source : PTI )