VHP says it is not against making beef a part of menu

Kochi: Condemning the row over serving beef in Kerala House, Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Wednesday said Sangh Parivar organisations were not against making beef a part of the menu in Kerala government guest houses or hotels across the state.

A day after the alleged Delhi police raid at Kerala House over serving beef snowballed into a controversy, Kerala unit president of the VHP, SJR Kumar accused organisations like Hindu Sena and Rama Sena of trying to tarnish the image of Narendra Modi government by enforcing their dictum on the people on various issues including their food habits.

"We are not against serving beef in Kerala House. We have not created any row over serving beef in hotels in Kerala or state government guest houses including New Delhi's Kerala House," Kumar told PTI here, when asked about VHP's comment on the Kerala government's decision to put the popular buffalo meat dish back on the menu of the Kerala House from today.

Kumar said Kerala House beef episode is the handiwork of organisations like Hindu Sena, which is not part of Sangh Parivar.

"We don't know anything about them. Their aim was to tarnish the image of Modi government which has earned global reputation for the good works being carried out in the country.

"Sangh Parivar organisations would never try to tarnish the image of Modi government. The Kerala House beef episode is the handiwork of organisations like Hindu Sena. We condemn it," Kumar said.

The VHP leader reiterated that the Sangh Parivar outfits have never opposed serving beef in hotels across Kerala.

"Beef is served in almost all hotels across Kerala. VHP has been actively working in Kerala for the last 50 years and we have not created any problem so far over the issue. In such a situation why should we go to New Delhi and create problems there?" he asked.

Kumar said VHP is a global organisation which is active in 80 nations --majority of them serve beef as an important food item-- and it was bound to respect the sentiments of the people of these countries.

He also said Delhi Police did not overstep in their action at Kerala House.

"They reached Kerala House to provide protection to it from organisations like Hindu Sena," Kumar said.

Action of Delhi Police entering Kerala House on a complaint that it serves beef on October 26 had triggered widespread protests and condemnation from various quarters.