Kerala: Two Youth Congress workers suspended for slaughtering cow in public

NEW DELHI: Kerala Police on Monday booked 16 members of Youth Congress under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (1960) for butchering a cow in public in Kannur, as the incident drew flak from various quarters. The brazen act was committed in front of a huge crowd in Kannur on Saturday during the 'Beef Fest' held by the Left and Congress in Kerala to protest against the Centre's ban. Congress has suspended its three youth wing leaders over the incident. An embarrassed Congress had condemned the incident as with Vice-President Rahul Gandhi terming its "thoughtless and barbaric", he said that it was "unacceptable" to him and his party. "What happened in Kerala yesterday is thoughtless, barbaric and completely unacceptable to me and the Congress Party. I strongly condemn the incident," he tweeted. Speaking with the news agency ANI, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that “such elements have no place in the Congress". BJP spokesperson Tajinder Bagga alleged that one of the accused is "close aide" of Rahul Gandhi. Bagga also released pictures of the Youth Congress member with the Congress leader.

@OfficeOfRG Mr Gandhi, Bahane nahi chalenge,he is ur close aid & doing everything on ur instructions.If you are serious then take action against him pic.twitter.com/WBwl9dp6YY

— Tajinder Bagga (@TajinderBagga) May 28, 2017

"Congress not only has slaughtered Cow but it has hurt the sentiments of 100 Cr Hindus as well," Bagga said. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath had also questioned the Opposition’s silence on the incident. "Many organisations, in name of secularism, demand respect for each other's sentiments. I don't understand why are they mum on Kerala incident," Adityanath, while addressing a public gathering in Lucknow, said. Congress leader Pandalam Sudhakaran said the manner in which the calf was dragged for being slaughtered left a pain in the heart. It is difficult to accept such mode of protests, he said. An 18-month-old calf was butchered in an open vehicle allegedly by Youth Congress workers who raised slogans against the Centre's decision to ban sale of cattle for slaughter. Kerala, where 60 per cent of the population eats beef and buffalo meat, had witnessed massive protests against the notification of ban on sale of cattle for slaughtering. The youth wings of various political parties cooked and served beef at hundreds of locations, and drew huge participation. The Centre has banned the sale and purchase of cattle from animal markets for slaughter, a move that is expected to hit export and trade of meat and leather. (With PTI inputs)