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Will Amend Cattle Notification on Urgently to Clear ‘Doubts’, Says Harsh Vardhan

Environment Minister Harshvardhan speaks to CNN-News18 on Tuesday.

New Delhi: The Centre is looking to “urgently” amend the language of the controversial cattle sale notification to clear doubts, Environment Minster Harsh Vardhan told CNN-News18 on Tuesday.

“The language will be amended to clear doubts, misinterpretations and misconceptions on an urgent basis. We are examining various petitions from the leather industry to states and NGOs,” the Union minister said.

Reacting to the Opposition’s allegations that the notification amounted to fascism, Harshvardhan said, “We don’t have an iota of intention to either influence anybody’s food habits nor do we want to affect the slaughter business. As a political party, we are used to listening to the term fascist for years. We are the only party that works with dedication and commitment to serve this country.”

The Centre’s recent notification banning sale of cattle for slaughter at open markets across the country has triggered protests in several states, including Kerala and Meghalaya. Beef fests in protests have also been held.

The Meghalaya Assembly had on Monday passed a resolution demanding “immediate withdrawal” of the notification, calling the measure an “infringement” of the rights of states.

First Published: June 13, 2017, 12:33 PM IST