Stalemate continues over beef

A day after Delhi Development Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan assured the State Assembly that no permission would be given to serve beef be it the Commonwealth Games or any other occasion, the war of words between the Congress and the BJP on the issue refuses to die down.

Delhi Assembly Speaker Yoganand Shastri sought an explanation from Leader of Opposition V. K. Malhotra on two Privilege Motions moved under Rule 66 by Congress MLAs Hari Shanker Gupta and Rajesh Lilothia on the issue of serving of beef during the Commonwealth Games.

In his notice, Mr. Gupta had stated that the Leader of Opposition had given pre-mature publicity to issues which were to be raised in the House and had thus committed a violation.

In this regard, the Speaker in his ruling said as per “Kaul and Shakder – Practice and Procedure of Parliament”, it has been stated that “giving of premature publicity to various matters connected with the business of the House is an act of impropriety”.

Stating that the House follows high parliamentary norms and traditions, Dr. Shastri said every member should follow these practices. He said Prof. Malhotra has been asked to give his version in the matter.

On March 19 the issue of supply of beef during the Commonwealth Games was first raised by Prof. Malhotra in the House. He had cited a statement allegedly made by Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta. Mr. Mehta had clarified that Leader of the MCD House Subhash Arya had asserted that MCD would not permit beef to be served in the Games Village.

When asked by the media, he had stated that “catering service contracts are being arranged by the Organising Committee in the Games Village and the issue is between the OC, the contractor who is selected for running the kitchen in the Games Village and the MCD which is supposed to give permission under the municipal laws.'' Mr Mehta had also clarified that the Delhi Government had nothing to do with it.

Thereafter BJP had persisted with the issue and had on Monday brought a Privilege Motion against Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Congress MLA Subhash Chopra for their earlier statements on the issue. Prof. Malhotra said it was wrong to say that the matter was for the MCD or the OC to decide as the Delhi Government should as per law appoint a Board to curb sale of beef. “You do not have knowledge of the Act when you have the power to implement it,'' he added. Raj Kumar Chauhan had then assured the House that “no permission will be given to serve beef”.