BJP using issue of cow protection for consolidating its Hindutva vote-bank: CPI (M)

New Delhi: After BJP's candidate for the Malappuram Lok Sabha by-poll, N Sree Prakash, promised supply of 'good beef' in the constituency if elected, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Sunday alleged that the saffron party was using its old tactics of consolidating the Hindutva vote-bank.

"It is very obvious that the BJP is using the old issue of cow protection as an issue for its communal polarization amongst the people and for consolidating its Hindutva vote-bank. All this is being done for vote bank politics and in this process innocent lives of Dalits of Muslims are being lost because of this aggressive communal polarization," CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury told ANI.

He said the BJP by doing this is destroying the country's communal harmony.

"Therefore, what it says in Kerala and what it says in northeast, what it says in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh are completely opposite to each other.And in this process, they are destroying the harmony of the country," he added.

Sree Prakash had earlier said he will ensure that the slaughter houses in the district make available quality meat to all households and restaurants.

"Within limits of law, I will ensure clean slaughter houses and ensure quality beef," Prakash said.

Following Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's order to close down illegal slaughterhouses, several states including as many as five of the BJP-ruled states have followed in for the closure of illegal abattoirs across the country.