In an act of retaliation, BJP activists in Alappuzha on Monday sprinkled water mixed with cow dung to "purify" a venue where CPM workers held a beef fest the day before and held a paal payasam (kheer) festival.

The CPM local committee members had conducted a public meeting and a beef fest at Muthukulam high school junction on Sunday, protesting the Centre's ban on sale of cattle for slaughter at animal markets.

And as a "countermeasure", the BJP panchayat committee members and Sangh Parivar workers reached the high school junction on Monday and organised a paal payasam festival at the same venue, according to a Mathrubhumi report.

Prior to the payasm fest, BJP workers held a protest march, during which they sprinkled water mixed with cow dung along the route to "purify" the area.