By IANS,
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Thursday warned legal action against officials and hotels if beef was imported or served for foreign visitors during the Commonwealth Games. The Congress also supported the move.
“As per a resolution passed by the MCD house in January last year, foreign visitors during the Commonwealth Games should not be served cow meat. This is in tune with the Delhi government’s Delhi Agricultural Animal Protection Act, 1994,” Leader of the MCD house Subhash Arya told reporters.
“If the law is not adhered to, we assure you that all BJP councillors and supporters will come out in open protest and FIRs will be lodged against the officials and hotels for importing or serving beef,” he said.
Supporting the move, Leader of opposition in MCD house Jai Kishan Sharma said: “Although this decision on importing or serving beef has not been finalised by the Delhi or central governments, if any such decision is taken, then I and all the remaining councillors will also oppose the move.”
“After all, this is a sensitive issue and the cow is sacred in our country,” he added.
Under the Delhi Agricultural Animal Protection Act, slaughtering cows, possession or import of beef is strictly prohibited.
“Last year Delhi government officials accepted that beef was indeed on the menu for Commonwealth Games visitors. But nobody is above the law, and we will use all our power to prosecute the offenders. Sealing notices will be served to any hotels found serving beef,” said Ram Kishan Singhal, the MCD standing committee chairman.
Arya said he had written to Lt. Governor Tejendra Khanna that the prestige of the country was at stake and the sentiments of millions of Indians should be considered by prohibiting the import of beef. He urged Khanna to advise the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee accordingly.
“When Indians travel abroad to the European Union or Australia, we are not allowed to carry pickles or dairy items or even a harmless apple and made to throw them away at the airport. It is strange that we are allowing the import of beef against the sentiments of our own countrymen,” Arya said.
A few days ago, former BJP president Rajnath Singh wrote to the Games organising committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi to keep beef out of its menu during Commonwealth Games scheduled Oct 3-14.