New Delhi: The Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday had slammed Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi for his ‘beef’ remark and said, “I eat beef, I’m from Arunachal Pradesh, can somebody stop me? So let us not be touchy about somebody’s practices.”
It had been seen as another blow to the ‘beef’ remark of Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi who had been already facing criticism from several political leaders and celebrities over his ‘those who eat beef can go to Pakistan’ remark, his colleague in the BJP-led NDA government has now slammed him for his “unpalatable” comment.
Rijiju had said that this remark of Naqvi was not ‘good’.
Rijiju’s reactions came nearly a week after Naqvi, the Minister of State for Minority Affairs, had defended the ban on cow slaughter and beef in two BJP-ruled states – Maharashtra and Haryana – in words that many found controversial.
Naqvi reportedly said, “It is not about loss or profit… it is an issue of faith and belief. It is a sensitive issue for the Hindus. Those who can’t do without beef can go to Pakistan or Arab countries or any other part of world where it is available.”
The statement is not palatable, Rijiju said, while asserting that such a ban could not be imposed on northeastern states, where beef is a popular choice.
Rijiju said, “If Maharashtra is Hindu majority and if they are to make laws which are conducive to the Hindu faith, let them be. But in our place, in northeastern states majority of people eat beef. So they also should not have a problem with the way we live. We have to honour the sentiments of each place and each location.”
He also said, “This country is a multi-racial, multi-religious, multi-communal country. We must respect each other’s practices. There cannot be any force on anybody about your practices, your faith. So if anybody makes a statement which is forcing or imposing your belief, your faith, your practices on another community, another believer, it is not good.”
Meanwhile Rijiju also said that Naqvi was using his freedom of speech and expression.
Bureau Report
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