Lalu claims RSS-BJP trying to communalise beef issue

Amid raging controversy over the lynching of a man in Uttar Pradesh earlier this week over rumours that his family stored and consumed beef, Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad on Saturday asked people to shun beef for it was not good for health and caused many diseases.

Lalu, though, asserted that it was wrong to kill a man for eating beef and termed the Dadri lynching as ‘barbaric’.

Addressing a rally, Lalu said nobody had the right to kill anyone for eating a food of his choice.

“What happened in Dadri was a communal violence. The BJP is responsible for such violence,” he claimed.

The RJD chief alleged that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the BJP were trying to communalise the issue of beef consumption.

“BJP and RSS are trying to communalise the issue of beef consumption. Many people eat beef, including Hindus, who go abroad,” he said.

Lalu’s comments invited the wrath of BJP leader and Union Minister Giriraj Singh who demanded that the RJD chief take back his statement that Hindus eat beef.

Singh also threatened to take this issue to people's court during ongoing campaign for Bihar assembly polls.

Later, talking to media persons, Lalu clarified that beef not only stands for cow’s meat, but also other animals.