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BJP’s U-turn on Cow slaughter ban? Rajnath Singh says, ‘government won’t interfere in choice of food’

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Srinagar: In an apparent shift from its stand on cow slaughter ban, the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) led NDA government has said that the union government won’t interfere in the matter of choosing ones food.

Senior BJP functionary and home minister, Rajnath Singh, on Tuesday asserted that his government will not interfere in anyone’s choice of food.

Hundreds of people gathered in Aizawl city in Mizoram to protest against Union government’s ban on sale of cattle for slaughter in animal markets today where Singh was on a visit.

Singh, who is accompanied by Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju, said, “the Union government will not impose any restrictions on people’s choice of food.”

He was responding to a question at a press conference where he was asked about the protests by locals against the government’s new rule on cattle sale.

Protests in Aizawl, organised by a local group, saw a huge crowd participating in the “beef ban bashing banquet”.

The North-eastern states have witnessed resentment against the union government order against the slaughter of cow. Many of BJP’s own members have resigned from the right wing party saying that “food should be a matter of choice”.

Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh takes salute as he receives a guard of honor during a visit to a Rapid Action Force Camp in Allahabad on January 28, 2015.

The organisers wrote on social media that they are protesting against Union government’s attempt to “restrict” their rights to eat what they want.

Beef is staple diet in Northeastern states, and several such protests have been carried out in the region in last few weeks since the order was announced by the government.

The BJP government has faced tremendous challenge in this region to impose such a law. Cow, the BJP asserts, is a sacred animal equal to a mother.

Similar assurances were earlier given by Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu after Union government’s order on cattle animals received massive criticism from several states.

The major point of contention from state leaders was that the government is trying to interfere in people’s choice of food, which is one’s basic fundamental right.

In Jammu and Kashmir, there is ban on transportation of bovine and charges are framed against those who resort to such “illegal” activities. Recently, a driver was killed when he sped away a police naka in Rajouri to avoid police case for ferrying bovine.

His dead body was recovered a few days later from a Nallah.

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