To beef or not to beef, during the Commonwealth Games ?

Should beef be served to sportspersons and guests visiting Delhi during the Commonwealth Games later this year?

More than 250 municipal councillors debated this issue hotly on Monday. And cutting across party lines, they all agreed it should be dropped from the menu.

“How can they serve beef in Delhi? It is illegal. We will not allow anyone to do that even if it is part of Commonwealth Games,” said leader of the MCD House, Subhash Arya.

“The religious sentiments of the majority of the Delhiites are attached to it. They can’t do this in the name of international commitment,” he said.

Arya said the Games village comes under the MCD area and they will not allow beef to be served to guests or sportspersons.

“It is not about party politics, even the Congress councillors are supporting our decision,” he added.

The municipal councillors are now planning to write to the Lt. Governor over the issue.

“We worship cows. How can we allow them to be slaughtered and served to be eaten? We will support the BJP on the issue for sure,” said opposition leader J.K. Sharma.

The Organising Committee (OC), which is preparing the menu for the Games, said that they have international commitments, which they will have to abide.

“We will serve food from across the globe. It is an international event and we will be serving all kind of food,” said Lalit Bhanot, Secretary General of OC.

“The cuiines will be continental, African, Caribbean, among others. The menu is still being prepared and will need a final clearance from the Commonwealth Games Federation. There are certain requirements of hosting an international event and we have to stick to it,” said Bhanot.

The catering division of the Commonwealth Games Organizing Committee (OC) is giving final touches to the Games cuisine.

The 71 Commonwealth countries have been divided into six zones. Each zone will have its own distinctive cuisine like European, Caribbean, Asian.

Chief secretary Rakesh Mehta confirmed that a number of food items would be imported for the Games.

“Rules for importing such items will be suitably altered for the purpose. Beef, if imported will only be for the guests and sportsmen and not for general consumption,” said Rakesh Mehta, chief secretary, Delhi government.