Union Minister and BJP leader from western Uttar Pradesh Sanjeev Kumar Balyan today said the lynching of a Muslim over rumours of beef eating was a "spontaneous" act" and no communal colour should be given to it.
Minister of State for Agriculture and Muzaffarnagar strongman Balyan asked Uttar Pradesh government to take strict action against cow slaughter.
"The incident was spontaneous and there was no conspiracy. The Centre has banned import and export of beef. We will review if cow meat is exported illegally," Balyan said.
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Stating that UP government has imposed ban on cow slaughter since 1954, he said illegal cow slaughter has risen in the last 2-3 years despite ban due to police "inaction."
"The issue should not be linked to communalism and to any party. Whatever happened was wrong and unfortunate. But why such incidents happen? Look at any district in the state, cow slaughter houses are set up at every place. UP government has not been able to take effective action," he said on the sidelines of an event here.
Asked if he supported a communal flavour being given to the incident, Balyan said "I don't agree with it. I don't want to link this issue with communalism. This is a social issue and is attached to the emotions of Hindu community. It is better to see the issue from this angle."
"Cow slaugher is banned in Uttar Pradesh. If cow slaughter is being done, the state government should take strict action," he said.
Noting that cow slaughter has become a big issue since Samajwadi Party (SP) has come to power in UP, Balyan said cow slaughter now has become an "illegal business" in the state and charged that "some of the SP members and police are involved in this illegal business."
On whether cow slaughter ban is on BJP's agenda, he said "it is not BJP's agenda. This is an issue of the whole Hindu community. Don't link this issue with BJP."
Last week at Dadri in UP, 50-year-old Iqlakh was lynched by a mob after rumours that he had eaten beef.
On senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh supporting the ban on cow slaughter, Balyan said "I appreciate he supports the ban. I hope in Kerala, where Congress is ruling, will soon ban cow slaughter."
Asked if the Centre can make laws to check illegal cow slaughter, he said "Agriculture and Animal Husbandry is a state subject and not a central issue."
Barring 3-4 states, there is ban on cow slaughter across the country. Beef export and import is also banned, he added.
