File photo: Home Minister Rajnath Singh at a press club event in Kolkata. (PTI photo)
After a minister said that those who want to eat beef should relocate to Pakistan, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said, "No, there is no problem. All Indians should remain in India."
Last week, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, who is in charge of Minority Affairs, defended the ban on beef in states like Gujarat and Maharashtra, stating, "It is not about loss or profit... it is an issue of faith and belief. It is a sensitive issue for the Hindus. Those who can't do without beef can go to Pakistan or Arab countries or any other part of world where it is available".
Days later, Kiren Rijiju, a union minister from Arunachal Pradesh, was reported to have said, "I eat beef. I am from Arunachal Pradesh. Can somebody stop me? So let us not be touchy about somebody's practices." After that was seen as a strong retort to Mr Naqvi's "go to Pakistan" remarks, Mr Rijju said he had been misquoted.
Mr Rijijiu told the Press Trust of India that while he had not said that he eats beef, "India is a secular country and food habits cannot be stopped."
Mr Rijiju was seated near Mr Singh today when the Union Home Minister attempted to quell talk of a ministerial spat over the beef ban.
In recent months, some states have either brought new brought new laws to ban beef or tightened curbs on killing cattle.
India is the world's largest beef exporter and fifth biggest consumer, with the trade dominated by the Muslim community who have protested against the latest restrictions with little success.