Never challenged Siddaramaiah to consume beef, says Minister Chauhan

Animal Husbandry Minister Prabhu Chauhan on Wednesday clarified that he had not challenged Leader of Oppostion Siddaramaiah to consume beef.

Speaking to reporters here on Wednesday, he said, "Siddaramaiah was repeatedly talking to the media about consuming beef. I had said, Siddaramaiah had been the chief minister of the state and now adorns the position of the Opposition leader. Such statements from him is not right. I never asked him to consume beef."

Reacting to Siddaramaiah's statements of not donating to the construction of Ram Mandir, he said, "While Siddaramaiah says that he will not donate to Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, his son and nephew have donated."

To H D Kumaraswamy's statement that the houses are being marked if they do not donate money for Ram Mandir, Chauhan said, "Kumaraswamy is lying. The fund collection is being done in a transparent manner. Being the Opposition parties, they have to oppose."