Kannur, May 29 (HT): The Youth Congress suspended on Monday three workers including Rejil Makutti for slaughtering a calf in public during a protest rally in Kerala that triggered widespread criticism, even from party vice-president Rahul Gandhi.

PCC acting president M M Hassan said their action was not in accordance with the Congress tradition and culture.

Youth Congress members slaughtered the animal on Saturday in the heart of north Kerala’s Kannur town amid slogan shouting against the Centre for banning the sale of cows for slaughter at animal markets, a move likely to choke the meat industry and hurt traders.

But videos of the slaughter, and cooking of the meat, went viral on social media and television, embarrassing the party and sparking condemnation of what many called unnecessary killing of an animal.

“Their thoughtless action brought enough shame to the party. We will take strict action against them,” a senior Congress leader said, adding that party workers should keep utmost restraint during such protests.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had condemned the slaughter and said his party would not support it. “What happened in Kerala is thoughtless, barbaric and completely unacceptable to me and Congress Party. I strongly condemn the incident,” he tweeted. Many party leaders also condemned the act.

“Even the animals meant for slaughter deserve sympathy. Don’t we need to show humanity? The mode of protest in Kannur was a cold-blooded one,” senior Congress leader Panadalam Sudhakaran said in a social media post.

Sixteen Youth Congress activists who slaughtered the cow in public were charged on Sunday under IPC Section 428 and section (ii) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960.

As the protest against new cattle notification mounted, the state government is planning to convene an all-party meet. As beef is widely consumed in the state the Centre’s decision to ban sale and purchase of animals from market has triggered widespread outrage in the state.