Beef controversy resurfaces, this time in AMU

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders here have asked the police to take stern action against what they claimed was 'beef biryani' being allegedly served in the canteen of Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College on the campus at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).

Local BJP leaders, led by the mayor of Aligarh, met the SP (City) yesterday to file a complaint and seek a probe into the allegations.

The University has refused the allegations saying that the biryani contained only buffalo meat.

"Beef has not been served in the canteen. It is the meat of buffalo which gets served. AMU officials also said that cow meat has been banned here since 1884 during the time AMU founder Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. He had even appealed to Muslims to shun cow slaughter during Bakrid, and when the Muslims of Bareilly followed his advice, he thanked them," a university official told ANI.

Mayor Shakuntala Bharti, of the BJP, however, alleged that the biryani contained cow meat, and that the menu board had separate entries mentioning and beef biryani.

"We have submitted a complaint to SP City, Aligarh, seeking probe and subsequent action into the matter. When cow meat and cow slaughter is banned, how can it be served in AMU?" Bharti asked.

"We have served an ultimatum of 24 hours to either take action or we will take the matter ahead," she added.

The police have said that a complaint has been registered in this regard and they would conduct an enquiry.

"Few people came to the police station complaining that there was beef served in the canteen of the Aligarh Muslim University. A complain has been registered and enquiry would be done," a police official said.