Nobody in my family eats beef, clarifies Rijiju

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday said that the Indian Constitution has given the people of the country certain powers, freedoms and obligations, while clarifying an earlier statement and saying that his family does not eat beef.

"I will not comment on what other people have said. I have just stated on the basis of the very agitated press media and the civil society in Mizoram when they asked me whether they all should go to Pakistan because they eat beef," Rijiju told ANI.

"The Indian Constitution has given certain powers, certain freedoms and certain obligations. And, I also do not eat beef, my family members do not eat beef and it is by our choice. We cannot impose on somebody else," he added.

Rijiju's statement comes after he had earlier slammed Cabinet colleague Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi's 'unpalatable remarks', after the Minister of State for Minority Affairs had asked people who want to eat beef to go to Pakistan.

"I eat beef, I'm from Arunachal Pradesh, can somebody stop me? So let us not be touchy about somebody's practices," the Indian Express had quoted him as saying.