The ban on the consumption of beef has been quite a raging topic in India and has gained momentum in recent times. Numerous stories of ‘gau-rakshaks’ attacking people on the suspicions of consuming beef have surfaced in a very short span of time, and the stance of politicians on the same is a little unsettling.
In a similar news, the newly sworn-in Union Tourism Minister, Alphons Kannanthanam, on being asked whether the ban on the consumption of beef has affected the hospitality and tourism sector in India said,
“They [foreigner tourists] can eat beef in their own country and come to India.”
However, in an earlier statement, he was quoted saying that people in Kerala would continue to consume beef.
He said,
“As Goa chief minister, Manohar Parrikar, has said that beef will be consumed in the state. Similarly, it will be consumed in Kerala.”
When Times Of India questioned him on the credibility of the previous statement, he said that it is a cock-and-bull story and he is not the food minister to take a decision about it.
The ban on beef consumption has slowly taken recourse to violent crimes to persuade people not to consume the meat. In such a situation, political leaders need to own up to their statements and not try to dismiss them as a figment of the imagination.