SP MLA terms Katju’s remarks on cow as imprudent

A Samajwadi Party MLA on Sunday slammed the remarks of former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju on cow slaughter, terming them as “imprudent and irresponsible”, and advised him to refrain from making such statements publicly as they send a wrong message to people.

Manoj Kumar Singh, SP MLA from Sayyedraja constituency in Chandauli district, dubbed Mr. Katju’s remarks as imprudent and irresponsible and said such “deplorable” comments are not expected from a person who has held the highest constitutional post.

“We would advise him to refrain from making such statements publicly while appearing before media as such remarks send a wrong message to students and the public,” Mr. Singh said while replying to the queries of reporters here.

“Today you are saying you don’t consider cow as mother, tomorrow you will say you don’t follow the guidelines laid down in the Constitution of India and who can stop you from doing so,” he said.

“We accept when you say that eating beef is a personal choice but do you think making such remarks publicly is right? We hope from your childhood you must have been taught that cow is considered as a holy animal and in reverence to it people in our country call it mother,” he added.

Mr. Katju, while attending a function at Banaras Hindu University, on Saturday had told media persons that cow was just another animal “which cannot be anyone’s mother”.

His remarks had also drawn strong protest by the University students, who shouted slogans against him and tried to block his way to the Seminar hall.

Singh also condemned the incident of lynching of a man in Dadri over rumours that he had consumed beef and said it was extremely unfortunate and should not have happened. He said that it seemed that the men were attacked on exhortation of someone there.

Mr. Singh said the Uttar Pradesh government was making all efforts to restore peace and harmony among various communities but a particular political party for its vested interests wanted to disturb it. He added that the state government would foil any such attempts and won’t let it occur at any cost.

The SP leader also expressed grief over the death of a scribe in his district last night and demanded an immediate arrest of the miscreants.

He said the Samajwadi Party will extend all possible help to the bereaved family of the scribe.