DMK leader MK Stalin to lead protest on May 31 against Centre’s ban on cattle slaughter

Police said several activists of a little known pro-Tamil outfit were detained when they organised a beef-eating event in Madurai.

In Coimbatore, some farmers staged protests wearing masks of cattle and demanded rollback of the Centre's notification.

Protests were also held in other parts of the state like Erode and Hosur by some Muslim outfits.

A group of students of IIT Madras conducted a 'beef-fest' in their campus last night.

Raising the pitch on the issue, opposition parties urged the ruling AIADMK to enact a law to counter the ban.

The DMK accused the K Palanisamy government in the state of "keeping mum" on the matter when Kerala and Karnataka had opposed it.

DMK working president MK Stalin will lead a protest against the ban here the May 31, the party said, adding the fundamental right to choose of food mentioned in the Constitution has been "snatched away" by the Centre.

Quoting media reports, the party said trade at the Anthiyur cattle market in the state was hit due to the Centre's move.

CPI state secretary R Mutharasan said most political parties and chief ministers have opposed the Centre's ban but Palanisamy was yet to comment on the issue.

Recalling the chief minister's statement on Saturday that he will respond to the ban after going through the Centre's notification in this regard, he said, "I am sure he must have gone through the notification. If not, he should go through it and spell out the stand of his government on the matter."

PMK founder S Ramadoss asked why the state government had not opposed the ban on sale of cattle for slaughter and demanded that it enact a law to counter it.

He also demanded that the notification has been withdrawal.

VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan urged the state government not to implement the ban and asked it to adopt a resolution in the state assembly against it and send it to the Centre.