BJP MLA in Kerala said there is an ambiguity in the rule. Photo for representation: PTI.

On a day when many Kerala MLAs had beef fry at the Assembly canteen and then debated the Centre's order on cattle slaughter in a special session, the sole BJP MLA in the House, O Rajagopal, said the Narendra Modi government is ready to correct the shortcomings in the notification.

"There may be some shortcomings, some problems, we are ready to correct it," said the BJP legislator from Nemom Assembly constituency.

Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan has openly asked for suggestions, O Rajagopal said.

CONGRESS FINDING FAULTS

"The Congress banned cow slaughter in 17 states, here they are finding fault and saying that we are denying people their fundamental right to eat," the BJP MLA said.

He said the Chief Justice of Kerala High Court has observed that there is no ban on cow slaughter, referring to the high court's refusal to put a stay on the government order.

"There is no ban on consuming (beef) and (cattle) slaughter and you can consume what you want. If there are any misrepresentations or misunderstandings, it can be corrected," the BJP legislator said.

"So far as the right to consume food (is concerned), people should be given the freedom to consume whatever they want," he said.

AMBIGUITY NEEDS TO BE CLEARED

He said the Centre has welcomed suggestions from states even when there was no need for the latter to be consulted as the government was acting on the directions of the Supreme Court.

"You can bring cattle but you have to prove it to the authority that it is not for wholesale export to other countries (sic)," said O Rajagopal.

"There is an ambiguity in the rules. How the ambiguity can be corrected is the issue," the BJP MLA said, and added that the objective of the Centre's notification "is to prevent large-scale export of cattle to other countries".

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