Can’t curb food habits: Rijiju

New Delhi, May 27

Amidst a row over eating beef, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju today said no restrictions can be put on food habits in a secular country such as India but the sentiments of the majority should be respected in Hindu-majority as well as Christian and Muslim-majority states.

“India is a secular country and food habits cannot be stopped,” he said in the backdrop of remarks by his ministerial colleague Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi that those who want to eat beef should go to Pakistan or an Arab country. At the same time, Rijiju said the Hindu faith and sentiments must be respected in a Hindu-majority state. Denying reports that he had said he ate beef and nobody could stop him, Rijiju said: “I never said I eat beef. I said we must respect each other’s faith, belief and food habit.” — PTI