SHILLONG: Tura MP and NPP leader Conrad Sangma has petitioned the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to de-notify the recent direction related to cow slaughter.
NPP is a partner in the NDA led BJP Government at the Centre.
In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister on Tuesday, Sangma said that there are concerns from many quarters with regard to the recent government notification relating to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017 issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, on May 23.
“The Rules among other provisions impose a number of restrictions on cattle trade which would have serious impact on the socio-cultural and economic milieu of millions of people, especially those in the agricultural and related industrial sectors in the country”, he said.
According to Sangma, the Rules, by imposing unreasonable restriction on the fundamental right to carry on any trade or occupation under Article 19 (1} (g) of the Constitution, will not stand the test of constitutionality.
“There is an apparent anomaly of the Rules that makes it ultra vires to the parent Act. Further, the Rules also violate the basic right of a person to freedom of choice regarding his/her food”, he said.
He pointed out that it is “extremely refreshing to the people of our country including political practitioners when you announced your policy of sobko sath, sabko vikas. I am therefore confident that you will not approve the Rules referred” .
The MP sought the personal intervention of the Prime Minister to issue necessary direction to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to de-notify the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017, in the larger interest of the people.
