On 18th May, former Environment & Forest Minister Anil Madhav Dave died. Five days later,  on 23 May, the ministry came out with a notification on cattle trade. It is said the notification didn't go through the normal process of consultation and vetting. So the wording of the notification provided grist to the rumor mills of anti-Hindutva forces, who are always more than willing to spark controversies.  Even though the new Environment Minister, Dr. Harshvardhan, clarified that the notification was not meant to "to influence food habits, or affect slaughtering business", the regime's opponents were in no mood to accept the minister's explanation. Top political sources have reported that the regime's opponents could have been stopped in their track if the administration had avoided some procedural mistakes. Reportedly, the decision on May 23 notification was taken and signed by late Anil Madhav Dave three-four days before his demise. After Dr. Harshwardhan took over the charge the matter should have been placed before him as the minister but the notification was issued presuming it already had the approval of the minister.