The leader of a Hindu fundamentalist group filed a complaint against the sale of beef in the cafeteria of the state residence. But it was buffalo meat. Police are charged with violating the territory of Kerala, which controls the residence. Chief Minister of the Indian state asks the Minister to report on the incident.

New Delhi (AsiaNews / Agencies) - While debate still rages over the Dadri episode, where a Muslim man from Uttar Pradesh was attacked and lynched by a mob of radical Hindus on suspicion of having eaten beef, police in New Delhi  have sparked a "political incident" for having carried out a raid at Kerala House following a complaint from some Hindu right wing activists of the sale of beef in the residence canteen.

Chief Minister of Kerala Oommen Chandy,  has criticized the behavior of the police and asked the Union Home Secretary to report on fact, since the actions of the police fall under his responsibility. Delhi agents are accused of "violating" the territory of Kerala, which controls the residence.

The episode occurred yesterday afternoon, when three members of the VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Hindu ultra-nationalist group) reported that beef was being offered on the menu at Kerala House, the residence of the chief minister and other senior politicians when in Delhi. They first threatened violence if the sale of the meat was not immediately discontinued and then warned Vishnu Gupta, leader of the Hindu Sena (fundamentalist Hindu), who alerted the police.

Following Gupta’s complaint, 20 policemen raided the residence and demanded an explanation from the staff of the State of residence, which denied the sale of beef and confirmed that buffalo meat was being used. Employees also stated that "the meat served in the restaurant was purchased in slaughterhouses authorized by the Government of Delhi." However, the sale of the meat has been suspended.

Chandy has harshly condemned the police action. He said: "Kerala House is the resistance of State for politicians and senior officials. I want all the details of what happened. The Delhi police should show restraint and make the necessary inquiries with the staff, before intervening. The Delhi Police must respond to the Union government, so I will ask the Minister to report on the incident".

In return, the police justified the raid as a form of "prevention of possible violence or vandalism", given the tensions that have emerged in recent weeks following the Dadri lynching, which has also provoked the sharp response of intellectuals and those opposed to the climate of intolerance fomented by radical Hindus in India, justifying attacks on religious minorities with the Hindutva ideology.

Beef has been banned in many areas of the nation, but continues to be consumed by Muslims, Christians and Dalits (untouchables) and is one of the main livelihoods for these communities.

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