Beef Controversy Dragged Unnecessarily: Union Minister Kalraj Mishra

Guwahati: Terming the recent controversy over beef and the Dadri lynching incident as 'unnecessary', Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Kalraj Mishra today said these issues were being drawn out of a non-issue by "some people" to gain mileage in the Bihar elections.

"There are Bihar polls and some people want to divert attention by making an issue over beef... a controversy. It is basically a non-issue," Mr Mishra said in Guwahati.

The Minister was in Guwahati to attend a function on the 113th birth anniversary of Jayaprakash Narayan organised as part of the countrywide celebrations.

Mr Mishra reiterated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government's prime agenda was to safeguard democracy through good governance and by rooting out corruption.

"For democracy we need good governance. Our government has not and will not compromise on fighting corruption," Mr Mishra added.

He also criticised the Assam government, saying that while the Centre has increased the fund flow, the pace of development was still slow in Assam.