Bengaluru: Toning down his earlier statement challenging the BJP over beef eating, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that food was a matter of personal choice and there was no need for others to interfere in the issue.
Speaking to reporters during Janata Darshan here on Tuesday, Mr Siddaramaiah said that if someone wants to eat beef, no one should interfere with it. Stating that the BJP was trying to rake up tension by raising these issues, he said neither the government, nor religion should impose a diktat on others’ food habits.
When asked about his earlier statement on beef eating, he said: “I never said I would eat beef. I said I had not eaten beef till now. However, if I feel like it, I will eat and no one can stop it.” About the inflammatory statement in Shivamogga by BJP leaders that they would cut the heads of people eating beef, Mr Siddaramiah said that he had not seen the video. “Let me see that first and I will react later. Till such time I see the video, there is no question of initiating legal proceedings,” he said.
Refuting the view that the state government was on the warpath with the Centre, he said the state wanted the Centre to intervene and solve the Mahadayi issue outside the Tribunal’s purview. “The state has sought Rs 3,800 crore through STRF funds. The Centre has positively responded and I am hopeful that it will release the money,” he said.
All-party leaders held a meeting with senior counsel Fali Nariman over the Mahadayi issue and convinced him over filing an interim application seeking immediate release of water for drinking purpose. “We still want to settle it outside the Tribunal’s purview with PM’s intervention,” he added.
About the Lokayukta going on long leave which would complete 100 days on Wednesday, he said he did not have the power to ask the Lokayukta not to go on leave. On the proposal to appoint Justice K.L. Manjunath as Upalokayukta, which was returned by the Governor twice, he said the Governor had sought some clarification. The government was providing details regarding this.
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