Youth Congress members during a beef festival in front of the BJP office in Ernakulam in Kochi on Saturday. Pic/PTI

'Beef fests' were held across Kerala on Saturday to protest the Centre's decision of banning sale and purchase of cattle from animal markets for slaughter. Activists of the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF, Opposition Congress-headed UDF and their youth wings took out marches and organised these fests across the state. Demonstrations were held outside the secretariat, where protestors cooked and distributed beef on the road side. "We will eat beef to show our protest against the Centre," said DYFI national chief Mohammed Riyaz, who led the protest.