This Article is From Oct 09, 2015

Kerala Student Politics Gets a Taste of Beef

Rahul Easwar's car was damaged by students of Milad E Sherif Memorial College in Kayamkulam.

Thiruvananthapuram: The backlash in Kerala over the beef row today singed activist and television personality Rahul Eashwar, who said he was roughed up and his car vandalised as he was against "beef or pork festivals".

His assailants, Mr Easwar said, were a group of students. A case against has been registered against 25 students and one of them has been arrested.

Beef festivals mark a new trend in the state's student politics - supported mainly by the student wings of the Congress and the CPM.

"This is reverse intolerance in the state. Elsewhere, if you eat beef, it becomes an issue. But in Kerala, I was attacked because I'm against beef festivals," he said. "An idea should be countered with an idea. There groups are using these beef-sentiments for their advantage."

In Kerala, enjoying a plate of beef cuts across religious and economic barriers, which is one of the reasons why beef festivals have become popular.

"We are completely against beef ban in India. What one eats is their own choice, no one can be killed for it. That's why we are organising these beef festivals," said Noble Kumar, president of the Congress-backed KSUI's Ernakulam unit.

"Those who are propagating bans against beef are the very people who like to oppress people or stifle their voices," said Vishnu Venugopal, of CPM-backed SFI.

The BJP, which is yet to gain a single electoral victory in the state, maintains that any form of meat ban is not in their agenda.

"We don't support any meat ban. As a party we have not decided that at all," V Muralidharan, the party's state unit chief told NDTV.

 
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