The Ministry of Environment banned the sale of all kinds of cattle for slaughter at animal markets nationwide in a gazette notification last week. This, quite obviously, didn't go down well with people in states like Kerala, Karnataka etc.. where cow slaughter is not banned and beef is a favourite food.

In protest, beef fests were organised in Kerala and controversies followed. Amid all this, senior Kerala BJP leader K Surendran, who has an active presence on social media platforms, made a Facebook post from his official page speaking against the beef fests organised in Kerala. Along with the post, he shared an image that is misleading, an image that shows slaughtered cows lying by the sidewalk of a market place.

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Suredran made the post at a time when there was already outrage against Youth Congress activists for slaughtering a calf in public in protest against the blanket ban on sale of cattle for slaughter. The fact that Surendran did not specify that the photo he shared with the post was of a scene from Uttar Pradesh and not from Kerala is indicative of his intentions and it misleads people even more since he talks about cows being slaughtered in public in Kerala.

Here is the post that became the talk of the town as many Facebook users called out the bluff of the BJP leader.

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DISCLAIMER: THE IMAGE COULD BE DISTURBING FOR SOME. VIEWER'S DISCRETION ADVISED.

Here is a close translation of K Suredran's Facebook post in Malayalam that ends with what seems like a threat:

"The State government should immediately take necessary measures to curb beef festivals organised across the state by youth organisations affiliated to the left, the Congress and certain "terrorist" organisations. Beef distributed during these festivals are not purchased from legal slaughter houses and in many places cattle is being slaughtered in public, openly flouting the law. Such incidents instill fear in common people and make them uncomfortable and is being done to provoke people. Anti-social elements and "terrorists" are taking advantage of the current scenario. Devaswom minister consuming cow meat in public has hurt the sentiments of many people. Ministers and responsible social workers should distance themselves from such horrific protests. People have the right to protest, but it will be better for all if people behind such protests refrain themselves. I request everyone involved not to force nationalistic organisations to counter this."

WHAT IS THE TRUTH BEHIND THE PHOTO?

K Surendran cropped the original image to lead people into believing that the scene is indeed from Kerala. The original image gives out information about the place. The name board that is visible in the original photo makes it evident that the photo is not from Kerala. The image is of a scene from the animal sacrifice at Dharampal temple.

Here is original image.

DISCLAIMER: THE IMAGE COULD BE DISTURBING FOR SOME. VIEWER'S DISCRETION ADVISED.

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