Cattle trade rules: Owaisi backs Supreme Court order

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday welcomed the Supreme Court order suspending the government rules banning the trade of cattle for slaughter.

"Fantastic, good, good," said Owaisi when a reporter sought his comment on the apex court verdict.

The Hyderabad MP said the government was on weak wicket over the issue.

"The government has always been on weak wicket. They had no right to notify those rules," he said.

The Central government in May had issued an order banning the slaughter of cattle sold in animal markets and said such animals could only be used for agricultural purposes like ploughing and dairy production. According to the order, cattle for slaughter would have to be bought from farmers directly.

The order had triggered protests in various states and the same was challenged in different high courts on the ground that it violated the basic right of a person to choose his livelihood or what he eats.

On the demand from some quarters for two-child policy in India, Owaisi said the people who were making this demand should visit China, which wants to take away the condition.

Stating that India has a demographic dividend, Owaisi said the government must make use of it.

"India is in an important and advantageous position. The demographic dividend is not going to last forever. The government must utilise it to make India stronger," he added.