Canara Bank Employees protest against Beef Ban in Kerala

Ernakulam, Kerala: Canara Bank employees in Ernakulam, Kerala, protested against Ban on Beef.

Employees staged an unusual protest by organising a “beef fest” after their newly appointed regional manager allegedly instructed the canteen not to serve beef.

According to the employees, the small canteen inside the bank served beef only on select days, but the manager, directed the staff to stop serving it. As per reports, the manager is from Bihar.

The protest was led by the Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI), which had already planned demonstrations against the manager over alleged insulting behaviour and mental harassment.

After the beef ban, the employees decided to highlight the issue by holding a beef festival.

BEFI leader S.S. Anil said the protest was not about forcing anyone to eat beef but about defending personal freedom, adding that food choice is a constitutional right in India.

The protestors showed their anger by serving and eating beef outside the bank office.

Independent MLA K.T. Jaleel supported the employees through a Facebook post, saying that senior officers have no right to dictate what people eat, wear, or think.

Kerala has seen similar protests in the past. In 2017, after the Centre banned the sale of cattle for slaughter in animal markets, many groups in the state organised beef festivals as a form of resistance.