VHP writes to LG to stop beef sale in Delhi hotels,restaurants

Fuelling the beef debate further after the Kerala House controversy, Vishwa Hindu Parishad has written to Delhi Lt Governor (LG) demanding that alleged beef sale in hotel and restaurants in the national capital be checked immediately.

The letter jointly signed by Kshetriya Gau Raksha Pramukh Rashtra Prakash and VHP Delhi state joint Secretary Ram Pal Singh Yadav appealed to LG Najeeb Jung to stop sale of beef in Delhi forthwith.

VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal claimed information on beef sale in the national capital was pouring in since last many days and the Kerala House incident and sting telecast on some media channels has exposed such incidents that openly challenge law of the land and religious sentiments of Hindus.

"VHP appealed to LG to issue immediate necessary directions to the concerned licensing and other law enforcing authorities to ensure implementation of law of the land, nab the culprits and stop hurting religious sentiments of Hindus," it said.

A copy of the letter has also been sent to Union Home Ministry, Commissioner of Police, Mayors and Commissioners of Municipal Corporations of Delhi and hotels, restaurants and food joints of Delhi for implementation of the law.

"We have categorically stated that 'in case the sale or serving of beef do not stopped forthwith, we will have to launch an agitation to protect the law'," Bansal said.

Highlighting provisions of the Delhi Agricultural Cattle Preservation Act, 1994, the letter said, "despite complete prohibition on sale, purchase, possession and consumption of beef in Delhi, various hotels, restaurants and food joints are selling beef".

"A little reference to any dictionary available clearly exposes the dubious arguments of those who are trying to mislead the masses that buffalo meat is also covered under the definition of beef," the letter said.

It comes close on the heels of the controversy over police entering the Kerala House here following a complaint that beef was being served in its canteen.