This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.

A Kerala Student Got Served A Showcause Notice After He Allegedly Cooked Beef In College Canteen

'Unpardonable offence'.
The student has denied cooking beef.
Phil Clarke Hill via Getty Images
The student has denied cooking beef.

Earlier this week, in Rajasthan, a 55-year-old man succumbed to injuries he sustained during an attack by a group of cow vigilantes. Yesterday, in Assam, three persons including a minor returning home with half-a-kg of beef were arrested in the outskirts of Jorhat in Assam. Now, in another part of the country, a college student has been issued a showcause notice by the principal accusing him of an "unpardonable offence".

The student who studies at a law college in Kerala has been pulled up by Principal T.P. Rajalekshm for allegedly cooking beef on the campus, reports The Telegraph.

A.T. Sarjas, a seventh semester student of the five-year LLB course at Bhavan's N.A. Palkhivala Academy for Advanced Legal Studies and Research (Bhavan's PALSAR), Ramanattukara, was served a notice on Tuesday.

The student was accused of "hurting religious sentiments" and "trying to destroy the institution".

"It has come to our notice that you have cooked and served beef on the campus on March 20, which has hurt the sentiments of a section of students and is likely to precipitate a communal crisis," the memo read.

However, the student has denied cooking beef. The student, a SFI leader, said that a symbolic protest was organised as the college canteen was shut for around three weeks. "We cooked and distributed rice, sambar, fish curry, and chicken curry. There was no beef," he said.

"We suspect it as part of plan to to uphold the fascist right-wing agenda," he told Times Of India.

Sarjas has been warned of "suitable action" if he fails to reply within a week.

When HuffPost India got in touch with the college, the Principal's secretary said that the Principal is on leave. Despite several attempts, the Principal didn't respond to our calls and messages.

The college director P. Parameswaran told The Hinduthat the problem also was because non-vegetarian food was not allowed in the institution. However, the accused student leader said that though the college canteen was vegetarian, students would often bring meat from outside. And, no one objected to it.

"We have served beef samosas during Iftar. Everyone had the samosas, including the college staff," he told The Telegraph.

The matter didn't end within the campus. The state unit of the SFI, upset with the whole thing, plans to launch an agitation. "We will not allow this kind of politics around beef in this state, where people have the complete freedom to eat what they want," M. Vijin, the SFI state secretary was quoted by The Telegraph.

Also see on HuffPost:

Embrace Thy Eggs

10 Cooking Tips For Indian Bachelors By Saransh Goila

Close
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.