Haryana minister's beef remark sparks row

Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij is courting controversy over his beef remarks when he said those who cannot live without eating beef need not come to Haryana.

His statement comes at a time when Haryana Chief Minister and RSS ideologue Manohar Lal Khattar is touring the globe and states down south wooing investors by promoting Haryana as an ideal destination for investments. Anil Vij said, “There are several nations where our eating habits don’t meet and so we don’t go there.” Haryana has legislated beef ban, which is why the minister maintained that the state was no place to eat beef. His comments have drawn flak from the opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) in Haryana.

Lok Dal leaders said the chief minister has been visiting the US, China, Japan and other  beef eating nations seeking investment on one hand and his cabinet colleague is asking beef eating people not to come to Haryana. They accused the government of living with a spate of  contradictions.