Alphons KannanthanamNew Delhi: Days after Alphons Kannanthanam said the BJP had no issues with those ate beef in Kerala, the union minister of state for tourism on Friday advised foreign tourists to eat beef, if they wanted, in their own countries before traveling to India.
The minister, who hails from the God's Own Country, was responding to questions on whether the beef ban in several states would impact the tourism sector.
While speaking at a convention of the Indian Association of Tour Operators in Bhubaneswar, Kannanthanam said, "India is the oldest civilization. The whole world should come and see us."
The former IAS officer had to face many questions on increasing incidents of cow vigilantism and restrictions on beef in several states and whether it would affect the hospitality sector.
On September 5, his first day in office, the minister had said beef would continue to be consumed in Kerala. The minister had claimed that the BJP does not dictate food habits in any place.
"The BJP does not mandate that beef cannot be eaten," he said. "If a state like Goa, which was ruled by the party, could eat beef, then there was no problem in Kerala," he was quoted as saying by PTI.
Just three days later, his advice to foreigners appeared to strike a different note. When he was reminded of his earlier comments, he chuckled: "That is a cock and bull story. I'm not the food minister. I am the minister for Tourism."
In July, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had said that the state will not impose any restrictions on the beef imports from Karnataka so as to avoid supply shortage in the state.
In India, cow slaughter is banned in as many as 21 states and beef consumption is barred in Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh among other states. It is also banned in the Union Territory of Chandigarh.
(With agency inputs)
