A special session of the Kerala assembly began with a sumptuous breakfast that included beef fry.
The special session later passed a resolution criticising the Union government’s recent notification regulating the sale of cattle in the open market.
Calling it “anti-federal” and “anti-people”, the resolution said it was aimed at curtailing people’s right to eat what they want.
Except O Rajagopal, the lone member of the BJP, all legislators supported the resolution introduced by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Vijayan said the new regulation has badly affected the people of the state and almost five lakh people, who were directory or indirectly involved in cattle trade, will become jobless.
The chief minister said cattle upkeep and slaughter came under the purview of the states and the Centre has no right to dictate terms.
An employee of the assembly canteen said that on normal working days when the house is in session, beef is served only after 11am.
“But today, with the session wholly devoted to discussing the beef issue, we brought 10kg of beef early in the morning. By now, a good number of MLAs have already had beef fry before heading to the assembly floor,” said the employee.
