Tamil Nadu: Protesters feast on 'beef' biryani to protest against ban in Maharashtra

Coimbatore, Mar 10: Days after the Devendra Fadnavis-led government in Maharashtra imposed ban on consumption and sale of beef across the state, members of Aadhi Tamilar Viduthalai Iyakkam here expressed their outrage against the ban by feasting over 'beef biryani'.

As per an ANI report, the protesters raised slogans against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and said the party is trying to divide the people. They said beef is a healthy meat and when other meats like mutton, chicken, fish and pork are allowed to be consumed, then why has the government banned the beef alone in the name of religion.

The long-pending Maharashtra Bill seeking a ban on cow slaughter received President Pranab Mukherjee's assent earlier this month. As per this new law anyone found selling or possessing beef, can be jailed for five years and fined Rs 10,000.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis too expressed happiness over President Pranab Mukherjee's decision for giving his assent to the bill.

"Thanks a lot honourable President sir for the assent on Maharashtra Animal Preservation Bill. Our dream of ban on cow-slaughter becomes reality now," Fadnavis said on Twitter.

A delegation of seven state BJP MPs led by Kirit Somaiya, (MP from Mumbai North) had met the President in New Delhi recently and submitted a memorandum seeking assent to the bill.

The memorandum said that the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Bill, 1995, passed during the previous Shiv Sena-BJP regime, was pending for approval for 19 years.

The legislation, entitled Maharashtra Animal Preservation Amendment Bill, 1995, was submitted for Presidential assent through a letter dated January 30, 1996.

Meanwhile, intellectuals have also criticised the Maharashtra government's decision of banning beef.

OneIndia News

(With inputs from PTI)