PETA urges PM Modi to ban meat from serving at govt. functions

India's Animal Right Organisation PETA on Monday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ban meat from serving at all government or government-sponsored meetings and functions.

The group asked the government to take cue from German environment minister Barbara Hendricks who banned meat from being served at her ministry's meetings and events.

It said that the meat production is one of the leading causes of climate change.

Quoting a report published by the Worldwatch Institute in 2009, it said that 51 per cent of worldwide greenhouse-gas emissions may be attributable to agriculture, specifically to businesses that raise cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, camels, and pigs for food.

"Raising animals for food also gobbles up land and food resources. According to Global Footprint Network, it takes 14 times as much biologically productive land to produce 1 tonne of beef as it does to produce 1 tonne of grain," it said.

"I hope you'll agree that India should also set a good example where environmental conservation is concerned by eliminating animal-derived foods from the menus of all government or government-sponsored meetings and functions," it added.

Describing Prime Minster Modi as a role model for leading a compassionate, healthy, and environmentally friendly eating lifestyle, the organisation said, "It's time for the entire Indian government to follow your lead and protect the environment by eliminating animal-derived foods from its meals.