Rajnath Says No Restrictions as Aizawl Held Beef Fest on His Visit

Over 2,000 people gathered at Vanapa Hall, close to where Rajnath Singh held a meeting, to celebrate the beef fest.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh (Photo: Reuters)

Hundreds of people on Monday took part in a beef party in Aizawl, Mizoram, to coincide with Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh's visit, as a mark of protest against new rules restricting the sale of cattle for slaughter.

Over 2,000 people gathered at the Vanapa Hall, just 200 metres from the Raj Bhavan, where Rajnath Singh presided over a high-level meeting to review security along the India-Myanmar border.

Meanwhile, Singh, on the same day, said that the Centre will not impose any restrictions on people’s choice of food.

Responding to a question on the protest by locals against the central government’s ban on sale of cattle for slaughter at animal markets, Singh said there should be no restriction on one's choice of food.

He made the remarks while addressing a press conference after chairing the first meeting of the Chief Ministers of four northeastern states bordering Myanmar.

The beef fest was organised by Zolife, a local organisation. The organisers clarified that the event was not aimed at promoting beef eating, but to reassert the freedom granted to citizens by the Indian constitution.

Earlier, there was no objection to eating of beef. But now, we see a conspiracy to deprive us of some of our basic rights. What one eats should be decided by him or her. There should not be any imposition.... People of different religions are living peacefully in Mizoram, with a majority of them Christians. There is no restriction on anyone, that he cannot follow or practice his religion in Mizoram

Remruata Varte, Zolife member, to IANS

He said the beef party was a token protest against the Centre's notification. He added that people braved rains to participate in the event.

(With inputs from IANS and PTI)