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Kerala House 'Beef Fry' To Be Back On Canteen Menu Today

Kerala House 'Beef Fry' To Be Back On Canteen Menu Today

NEW DELHI -- The Kerala House canteen in Delhi will resume serving 'beef fry' from today, after a brief hiatus. The official state house of Government of Kerala at New Delhi had stopped serving buffalo meat in its canteen after a police 'raid' on Monday. A few people believed to be from a fringe right-wing group had made a PCR call on Monday afternoon, alleging beef was being served in the state house canteen.

A 1994 law bans slaughter or possession of beef in Delhi, and officials of Kerala House have vigorously denied that beef is being served at the state house canteen. In fact, the Resident Commissioner of Kerala House has filed a police complaint following the incident, and Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has lashed out against Delhi Police for "gate-crashing".

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chandy said that Delhi Police "disrupted the functioning of the canteen" on wrong information that cow meat was being served there. "I would like to inform you that the canteen serves vegetarian and non vegetarian cuisine and the items in the menu are in accordance with and within the confines of the existing law, ” said Chandy.

Chandy has asked PM Modi to instruct the Home Ministry to take action against those who had "trespassed" Kerala government property on Monday, reported The Indian Express, adding that police did not take permission from the Kerala Resident Commissioner.

Kerala chief secretary Jiji Thomson meanwhile said that they were waiting for police action on those who had gate-crashed the state house.

Delhi Police chief BS Bassi said on Tuesday that cops had only tried to ensure no "untoward incident" took place at Kerala House, and denied that there was any 'raid' at the state house. He added that cops were being extra cautious to prevent any law and order situation following the PCR call, which they suspected was made by a "drunkard-type of person".

Leaders of several political parties quickly jumped in to criticise the BJP government. While Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said BJP was behaving like the Shiv Sena, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee condemned the incident.

I strongly condemn Del police raid on Kerala house. I agree with Kerala CM that Kerala House is a govt est & not a pvt hotel(1/2)

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) October 27, 2015

I strongly condemn what happened in Delhi at Kerala Bhavan.An unwise and unhealthy attempt to curb fundamental rights of people.Intolereance

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) October 27, 2015

"It is the individual's freedom to decide what to eat and wear, and that freedom should not be infringed upon," said former defence minister and senior Congress leader AK Antony.

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