Vck Minister Slams Pmk Mla’s Objection To Provide Beef To Hostellers
Vegetarian food is much safer than meat: PMK MLA Sowmiya Anbumani
Thoothukudi: PMK MLA Sowmiya Anbumani’s opposition to the proposal to provide beef to students of social justice hostels triggered a political controversy on Saturday, with Social Justice Minister and VCK functionary Vanni Arasu reacting sharply to her remarks.
Responding to media persons here, Sowmiya said any kind of meat could be served only if it was stored and prepared safely. She said vegetarian food was a safer option as ensuring the safe storage and preparation of meat was difficult.
“Vegetarian food is much safer than meat," suggested the MLA, who added that if meat could be stored and cooked safely, it could be served. "But ensuring this consistently is difficult,” she said, adding that improperly stored meat could cause health problems, including vomiting and diarrhoea.
Vanni Arasu, who was also in Thoothukudi, however, defended the proposal, saying food was being provided to students based on their preferences. Responding to Sowmiya's suggestion of providing only vegetarian food in government hostels, he said chicken and mutton had been introduced in government hostels following requests from students.
“Is it justifiable to say that students should eat only curd rice?” retorted the minister, adding that there should be no politics in food.
The minister alleged that the opposition to beef was rooted in sanatan politics and said the Sangh Parivar organisations and their allied casteist outfits were pursuing such politics based on the belief that the cow was sacred.
