No beef during Commonwealth Games: Delhi govt

Putting to rest the controversy over serving of beef during Commonwealth Games, Delhi government today said it will not allow serving of the food item during the sporting event as it is prohibited in Delhi.

PWD and Revenue Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan made a statement to this effect in Delhi Assembly, days after the issue of serving beef during Commonwealth Games rocked the House with BJP MLAs disrupting its functioning.

"The Delhi Agricultural Cattle Preservation Act, 1994 prohibits the sale and storage of beef and so will not allow serving of beef during the Commonwealth Games," Chauhan informed the Assembly.

On Friday, the issue was raised during 'discussion under special mention' by Leader of Opposition V K Malhotra who said Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta had made a statement that beef will be imported during the event to serve athletes and officials.

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit then said that the serving of beef was an issue between Organising Committee of the event, the caterers and MCD and her government had nothing to do with it.

She said that Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta has only made it clear that it was for the MCD to decide on the matter.

The Opposition had expressed serious objection to her statement and asked how could the Chief Minister "shy away from enforcement of the legislation passed unanimously by the Assembly".

She also said the BJP was raising the issue as they were trying to make political capital out of it and that they were "communal minded".

Meanwhile, Speaker Yoganand Shastri accepted a privilege motion against the Chief Minister and Congress MLA Subhash Sachdev on the issue of serving of beef.

Shastri said he has received a privilege notice against Dikshit and the MLA and it has been accepted.

A notice will be issued to both seeking their explanation in the matter.