Kerala Leads The Fight Against #BeefBan Says, Beef Is A Part Of Its Tradition!

While the conversation about the #BeefBan is getting rekindled again after Maharashtra ruled that possession and consumption of beef wasn't illegal but slaughter was, now Kerala has hit out strongly against the beef ban. Even though beef is not illegal in the state, there were reports that the Kerala Police Academy was running an unofficial beef ban. You'll also remember that the state's guest house in Delhi was attacked on the accusation of serving beef which later turned out to be buffalo meat.

Newly appointed state chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said eating beef is a part of the state's tradition. Pinarayi made it clear that Kerala is having a tradition of people eating the food of their own choice and no change will be allowed in that culture.

PTI

His comments come days after IG Suresh Rajpurohit ordered a probe into reports of beef being served at the Police training academy by some left-leaning groups to celebrate LDF's election victory.

Kerala Police

It was reportedly consumed by around 150 trainees, which led to IG Rajpurohit summoning and seeking an explanation from those running the canteen.

Beef which is completely legal in Kerala had an 'unofficial ban' in the police academy for nearly two years ever since Rajpurohit took charge.

However, both the director of the Academy Rajesh Dewan and IGP training Rajpurohit denied that there was a ban on serving beef at the mess.

"The menu of each mess is decided by the mess committee, and new items can be served with the approval of the committee. The officer-in-charge may have sought an explanation from the staff who had deviated from the pre-approved menu," said IG Rajpurohit.

"We have no restrictions on the menu of the trainees. All that we insist the food that the trainees eat should have the calories required by them to undergo the training programmes," Dewan said.

Beef which is deep-rooted in Kerala's multi-cuisine culture has always remained a touchy issue in the state, where it is the most popular non-veg item.

With many states recently banning beef, it had also become a symbol of defiance in Kerala with many groups including students, mostly pro-left organising beef festivals across the state.

It had also made headlines last year after the Kerala House in Delhi was raided by police for allegedly serving beef on its menu. However, the government clarified that the 'beef' served in the state guesthouse was buffalo meat which is legal and not cows meat.

BCCL

Even during the recently held elections it was one of the most discussed issues, with even the state BJP leadership clarifying that they are not against people eating beef.