The Kerala head of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), SJR Kumar, has condemned the Delhi Kerala House beef episode.
However, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad Joint Secretary Surendra Jain, on Tuesday, had called for strict action against those serving beef. He had also questioned why “beef fry” was written in Malayalam on the menu of Kerala House.
We are not against serving beef in Kerala House. We have not created any row over serving beef in hotels in Kerala or state government guest houses including New Delhi’s Kerala House.
SJR Kumar, VHP Kerala Chief
However, after Hindu Sena chief Vishnu Gupta was detained, the Kerala VHP chief claimed that organisations like Hindu Sena are tarnishing the image of the Modi government.
We don’t know anything about them. Their aim was to tarnish the image of Modi government which has earned global reputation for the good works being carried out in the country. Sangh Parivar organisations would never try to tarnish the image of Modi government. The Kerala House beef episode is the handiwork of organisations like Hindu Sena. We condemn it.
SJR Kumar, VHP Kerala Chief
The contradiction between the two statements has come amid comments against the Delhi police for the incidents. The Opposition and the Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, among others, condemned the incident.
Beef is served in almost all hotels across Kerala. VHP has been actively working in Kerala for the last 50 years and we have not created any problem so far over the issue. In such a situation, why should we go to New Delhi and create problems there?
SJR Kumar, VHP Kerala Chief
The Kerala VHP also repeated the Delhi police’s claim that the police reached Kerala House to provide protection to it from organisations like Hindu Sena.
It was not a raid. In fact, it was a preventive measure as per our standard operating procedures. We had alerted their private security staff as soon as we got a call to prevent any protest. We also deployed possible security measures there and alerted the staff working there.
BS Bassi, Delhi Police Commissioner on Tuesday
(With inputs from PTI.)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)