Bengaluru, (DHNS): Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said the Centre’s move to ban the sale of cattle for slaughter infringes on the state’s rights guaranteed under the Constitution.

Speaking after inaugurating the oath-taking ceremony for newly appointed state Youth Congress office-bearers, he said; “Cow slaughter comes under the state list...It is my right to decide the food that I want to eat and the cloth that I want to wear. It is unconstitutional to take away this right.”

Old cattle are a burden on farmers. At least 10 kg of fodder is required per day to keep each old head of cattle alive. This will adversely affect the farmers’ finances. The Centre’s move will badly hit the agriculture sector. The Centre is not aware of these consequences, he said.

“Are we not Hindus? Are Muslims and Christians not Hindustanis?...The BJP is trying to mislead people by playing on the emotions of innocent people. It talks of sabka saat, sabka vikas, but it is keeping Muslims, Christians and Dalits away. Youth should never get carried away by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s misleading speech,” he stated.

KPCC president G Parameshwara warned that the party will not tolerate indiscipline. It will not hesitate to take action against those who indulge in anti-party activities, he added.

Four of the five newly elected vice presidents of the state Youth Congress submitted their resignation letters, protesting the party’s decision to allow the swearing-in of new office-bearers despite reports of malpractice in the recently held elections. Rajendra, Sumaya Tabrez, Shivakumar, Kemparaju (all vice presidents) and Umesh Bore Gowda (general secretary) handed over their resignation letters to Indian Youth Congress president Amrinder Singh at the KPCC office, sources in the party said.