NCP slams BJP over cow slaughter ban comment

PANAJI: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) condemned the statement made by Union home minister and BJP leader Rajnath Singh over the government's commitment to implement a ban on cow slaughter across the country. "We condemn this. The BJP, which has a majority, never had this on their manifesto when they were elected," NCP spokesperson Trajano D'Mello said. "This move is contrary to their slogan 'Sabke saath Sabka vikas'...this is hypocrisy." Stating that a uniform ban on beef directly affects various communities in Goa as beef is a part of their cuisine, D'Mello requested independent as well as BJP MLAs who spoke against the beef ban to write to chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar demanding that he write to Singh to ensure that beef is not banned in Goa. "Due to fanatic sentiments of some people, the whole country cannot be held to ransom," D'Mello said. Parsekar had promised that he would not stop the supply of beef in the state and had even gone to the extent of ensuring that the government sourced beef for the state from other states.   TOI