To beef or not to beef? Twitter gives you the answer

The hashtag #BeefBan began trending in the morning replete with tweets outraged over the ban

President Pranab Mukherjee today  gave his nod to the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Bill,  first passed in 1995 by the then Shiv Sena-BJP government, to ban beef in the state.

The move, predictably, did not go down well with meat eaters. Equally predictably, social media across the nation exploded with all the rage, and wit, of those deprived. In only a matter of hours, #beefban overtook #VVIPRacism, which has been trending in the morning, underlining, once again, that Indians care more about food than minor inconveniences such as traffic.  

Of course, it's another matter that restaurants across the nation have been ripping off diners for years by passing off buffalo meat -- which has not been banned -- as beef, the ban on which has been around for decades, except when it is at a fancy place that has an import licence.

 

Thankfully, most chose wit over anger to express where their gastronomic loyalties lay. At stake, after all, was the one thing Indian consumers just can't get enough of -- choice.  

Here is a look at some of the tweets on the hashtag:   

Good to know in India is more safe for cows than women . #BeefBan

— Sufyan Ilyas (@iamsufyanilyas) March 3, 2015

In Maharashtra, all chicken, goats and sheep are currently thinking - Why do gais have all the fun? #BeefBan

— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) March 3, 2015

Prisoner1: Sexual harassment.Tu? Prisoner2: Same yaar.Tu? Prisoner3: Beef khaya. Prisoner1: Matlab hum log pehle niklenge. *high5s Prisoner2

— José Covaco (@HoeZaay) March 3, 2015

#AchcheDin* * - for cows

— Azeem Banatwalla (@TheBanat) March 3, 2015

In the US, states are deciding, one after another, to legalise marijuana. In India, states are banning beef. Therein lies the difference.

— Azeem Banatwalla (@TheBanat) March 3, 2015

Has Censor Board come up with any notification banning the word 'beef'?

— ??????????? (@jumsumtak) March 3, 2015

Hey government! Moo on. Get with the times. #Beefban

— #ish (@WhatMenBugger) March 3, 2015

Smriti Irani is safe. Mamata Banerjee is safe. Mayawati is safe. Today is a good day. All cows are safe. #BeefBan

— lindsay pereira (@lindsaypereira) March 3, 2015

Some, however, welcomed the move: 

Good to see #BeefBan @Dev_Fadnavis well done :) Some liberals won't know value of a cow.

— The VVIP #Ak49 (@MrVVIPAK) March 3, 2015

I'm OK with the #beefban. That's my opinion. If you're not, then good. I am not going to come and poke you in your eye for that.

— Its Not Just Fashion (@sindhugupta) March 3, 2015

Wow ! I have one more Reason to be happy today #BeefBan Still Way to go !!! #GoVegan

— iMoRTaL (@revengerisalive) March 3, 2015

@oneamrik #BeefBan is misled. It is on cows which is holy in Indian culture. Buffalos are still allowed. Useless media hype. LOL

— Amaan Rizwan (@amaanthinks) March 3, 2015