Beef row: MPs protest outside Kerala House in Delhi

The row over a 'beef raid' at Kerala House here intensified after parliamentarians from the state protested outside the official state house on Tuesday.

The MPs wanted beef curry back on the menu at the Kerala House canteen. "This is an infringement on the rights of the people of Kerala. This is a property of people and government of Kerala. We condemn this police action," said A. Sampath, an MP from Attingal constituency of Kerala.

Another MP P.K. Sreemathi said: "This is an attack on federalism. The Centre should apologise."

"Buffalo meat is not prohibited, so levelling such allegations is uncalled for. The police are behaving like a mob," said another MP C.P. Narayanan.

A Delhi Police team visited Kerala House canteen on Monday evening after Vishnu Gupta, a Hindu Sena leader, lodged a complaint that the state house was serving 'beef'. Officials at the Kerala House, however, said it was buffalo meat and not beef. Later, the non-vegetarian dish was taken off the menu.

"I registered a complaint with the police when we saw beef on the menu card. The police were pushed out from the kitchen when they arrived at Kerala House," said Gupta.

Meanwhile, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi objecting to the police raid at the state guesthouse.

The Kerala government also denied allegations that beef was served at the Kerala House.