Will beef be on Games menu?

In a reply to Right to Information (RTI) activist Subhash Chandra Agrawal, the organising committee of the Games, said: "The organising committee of Commonwealth Games has decided to provide nutritious meals to the participants as per the guidelines of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CWF).

"The CWF guideline states that the committee must provide quality 24-hour catering service offering nutritious meals and snacks to athletes and their team officials during Commonwealth Games Delhi 2010, taking into consideration, cultural and dietary requirements and the need for variety," the committee added.

Commenting on the reply, Agrawal said: "The organising committee is known for sending incomplete responses. Or they tactfully delay and confuse replies."

The issue was first taken up when former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh wrote to the committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi asking him to keep beef, out of the menu. Cow is considered as a holy animal by the Hindus.

Later the BJP-led Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) had also warned and passed a resolution against serving beef during the event. The Delhi government has also clarified that beef will not be served during the Games.

The Games will be held Oct 3-14.