PETA seeks ban on serving beef during C'Wealth Games

An animal rights group on Monday demanded that beef and other non-vegetarian items should not be served to athletes and delegates during the Commonwealth Games in keeping with the country's compassionate culture.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has written a letter to Commonwealth Games Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi opposing serving of non-vegetarian food items during the event slated in October.

"Refraining from serving beef would be respectful to the millions of people who revere cows...serving only vegan food would show respect for people of all faiths and would demonstrate respect for all animals and public health."

The group's senior campaign coordinator, Nikunj Sharma asserted that it would also show the compassionate culture and heritage of India, the birth place of Mahatma Gandhi, Mahavir and Buddha.

"The production of meat, eggs and dairy products also wreaks havoc on the environment, being an important cause of carbon emissions," PETA said quoting a United Nations study that the livestock sector generates more greenhouse gases than all the cars, trucks, trains and planes in the world combined.

Former BJP president Rajnath Singh has already written to Kalmadi that his party is opposed to beef on the menu.

"Cow is considered sacred in India. This thought has been integral to our cultural ethos for ages. No wonder, even the founding fathers of our Constitution also advocated a ban on cow slaughter," Singh had said in his letter.