By IANS
Ranchi : Members of both the ruling and opposition parties have threatened to move court if Jharkhand Transport Minister Enos Ekka is not sacked as he allegedly ate mutton during a feast to celebrate Gandhi Jayanti.
Gandhi Jyanti is celebrated as International Non-Violence Day and the sale of meat and poultry on Oct 2 is officially banned in India. Enos Ekka is in the eye of a storm as he participated in a feast where mutton was served in his home district of Simdega on Oct 2.
According to reports, along with the minister, Martin Porus, the district superintendent of police, and other officials also ate mutton during the lunch. The feast followed a football match that was organised on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti in Pakartand village of Simdega district, about 170 km from Ranchi.
The minister has, however, denied that he ate mutton.
“The minister has committed crime by eating mutton on Gandhi Jayanti. The minister is a blot and he has defamed Bapu. He should be sacked for his heinous act,” said former chief minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Arjun Munda.
“If the minister will not be sacked by the Madhu Koda government then our party will move the high court and seek legal action against the minister,” said former chief minister and Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) president Babulal Marandi.
Even Congress legislators have demanded the minister’s dismissal. “The minister should be sacked for his dastardly act. If no action will be taken against him then we will move the high court and seek legal action against him,” said Niel Tirkey, a Congress legislator.
Reacting on the issue, Chief Minister Madhu Koda said: “What has taken place is due to the lack of awareness. People took 100 years to understand Mahatma Gandhi. Simdega is a backward district and people will take some time to understand these things.”