A political row erupted on Friday over Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar's reported comments that Muslims can live in the country but will have to give up eating beef with Congress calling it unconstitutional and a "sad day" for India's democracy.
As the remarks sparked an outrage, BJP dissociated itself from Khattar's views, calling it "wrong" and asserted this was not the party's stand while the Aam Aadmi Party demanded sacking of the chief minister.
Khattar on his part sought to do damage control, saying his words have been distorted but he was ready to express regret if he has hurt the sentiments of people.
"My words have been distorted. I never made such a statement. But if the sentiments of anyone have been hurt with my words, I am ready to express my regret," Khattar said.
In an official release quoting Khattar said he has full devotion in the practice of 'Sarva Dharma Sambhav' and believes in taking ahead all sections of the society together.
The chief minister said when the Haryana Vidhan Sabha passed the 'Gau Sanrakshan Avm Gau Samwardhan' Bill, 2015, all sections of the society had supported it.
During the Bhartiya Muslim Gau Palak Sammelan organized recently at Mewat, the community had willingly given assurance that they would not resort to cow slaughter on any religious occasion, release quoting Khattar said.
"We understand and respect the feelings of every religion and community in the society," said the first time MLA, adding that he did not make any statement which would have hurt anyone's sentiments.
"However, if anyone or any community has felt hurt, he regrets for the same," he said.
The newspaper later released an audio tape of Khattar's interview in which he's heard making the controversial statement.
In the interview carried by the newspaper, Khattar had said, "Muslims can continue to live in this country, but they will have to give up eating beef" because "cow is an article of faith here".
Coming close on the heels of controversial statements made by a few BJP leaders over the lynching of a Muslim by villagers in Dadri over rumours that he had eaten and stored beef, Khattar's reported comments invited a backlash from the opposition parties.
"Sad day for India's democracy! CM Khattarji will now decide qualifications for Indian citizenship. Is this new model of governance Modiji?" Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala asked, taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Janata Dal-United chief Sharad Yadav attacked BJP, saying its leaders keep taunting Muslims and ask them to go to Pakistan but what will they do with people in northeast where beef is eaten?
"They will have to understand that India is not Europe or China. It is a diverse country," he said.
Another Congress leader Rashid Alvi said Khattar's comments were unconstitutional and he had no right to continue as the chief minister.
"The views expressed by Khattar are not that of the party. I will talk to him and will advise him. It is wrong to say like that," Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu told PTI, adding that it is not correct to link anyone's eating habits to religion.
"This is not the BJP's position... It is not correct to link eating habits to religion. People have to keep in mind the sentiments of others and eating is a personal choice of people," he said.
Reacting to the controversial statement made by the Haryana chief minister, senior BJP leader and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad noted the party had nothing to say as Khattar himself had issued a clarification, and added that BJP respected the country's diversity.
"Khattar has himself given a clarification. We have nothing to add to it. We respect the country's diversity," he told a press conference at the BJP office.
At the Congress briefing, party spokesperson Rita Bahuguna Joshi condemned Khattar for his remarks. "Haryana CM's statement is highly unconstitutional. Once a CM says something he cannot take it back," Joshi said.
Several other Congress leaders took to twitter to attack Khattar. Party spokesman Gaurav Gogoi wondered "Why do RSS appointed Chief Ministers and Union ministers continue to make hate statements despite Prime Minister's repeated utterances?"
"...who is CM to grant permission to anyone to live in India or not? Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian are all Indians -- BJP likes it or not," Congress MP from Haryana Deepender Hooda said.
"These kind of comments are meant to divert attention from the total governance failure of BJP government in Haryana. Divisive politics at (its) worst," Hooda said on the micro-blogging site.
Reacting to the controversial remarks by Khattar, AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi said any criticism of a chief minister "who has mob mindset" would lead to "lynching" and asserted that Muslims will live like first-class citizens in the country.
Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he tweeted, "PM will say Sad sad what can Centre do? Forget about CM threatening 17 crore proud indian muslims (sic)".
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