The curbs, being dubbed as part of implementation of the RSS agenda, also witnessed a rare unity between the ruling Left Democratic Front(LDF). And the Opposition United Democratic Front(UDF).

Kerala’s sense of indignation and shock is understandable as the state, which tops in cattle slaughter, will be hit hard by the curbs. During the period 2015-16, the state saw the slaughter of 12.39 lakh cattle. The figure has more than trebled from that for the state in 2009, when only four lakh cattle were slaughtered.

That the State is in no mood to take the central fiat lying down is clear from the defiant statements emanating from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and leader of the opposition, Ramesh Chennithala. Vijayan was strongly critical of the Centre’s failure to take the states into confidence before going for the restrictions. The order amounts to a blatant violation of the concept of cooperative federalism, the delights of which the Modi government hawk day in and day out. “So far the cow vigilantes had targeted only those who slaughtered cows. Now restrictions have been slapped on buffalo, bull and camel. If it is ban on beef today, tomorrow it could be the turn of fish,” Vijayan said.

Ramesh Chennithala said the order aims at stealing the rights of the citizens. Each citizen has the right to decide on what to eat. Modi Government’s attempts to steal the fundamental rights of the people should be vehemently opposed, Chennithala said.

The decision of the state unit of the Students Federation of India(SFI) to organize beef festivals in various parts of the state shows the LDF Government’s determination to oppose the centre’s notification tooth and nail.

What makes it particularly shocking is that the fiat has come a day before the month of Ramzan begins. Evidently, the Centre’s sinister agenda is to intervene in the religious freedom of the citizens.

The Central directive is also bound to escalate tensions between the Modi Government and Kerala. The ‘fascist’ order militates against Modi’s own suggestion to the Kerala CM to treat his government as ‘home’.

Already, the Centre-state ties have come under severe strain over the rise in political violence in Kannur district.. The latest killing of a BJP worker in Kannur had occasioned a demand for imposition of the Armed Forces Special Powers act(AFSPA) in the violence-torn district.

The ‘unconstitutional order’ will also deal a debilitating blow to the BJP-RSS efforts to expand the ‘third front’ in the state, besides exposing the communal agenda of the Modi Government.

Legal experts feel that the order, if challenged in court, could be, annulled. They are of the opinion such an important order, which could have far-reachign repercussions across the country, should not have been imposed without prior discussions with the states. The opponents of the order have a strong case as the decision denotes a flagrant attack on an individual right to have food of his/her choice. No government can restrict that right, they point out. In support of their argument, they cite the allude to the setback the UP Government headed by Yogi Adityanath suffered when the Allahabad High Court set aside the order to close all slaughter houses in the state. The latest notification will suffer the same fate, they aver.

The decision also proves, if proof were needed that the RSS has strengthened its grip on the Modi Government. Modi’s talk of governance and development has been exposed for what it really is: a humongous sham.

One thing is for sure. Kerala will, in the days ahead, witness a slew of protests against the centre’s fiat. It could acquire the proportions of a full-fledged movement given the intensity of people’s anger.(IPA Service)