MPs from Kerala protest outside Kerala House in New Delhi after a police raid there following a complaint by a fringe group. (Press Trust of India photo)
Buffalo meat returns to the menu at Kerala House in Delhi today, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy confirmed this morning, also dismissing as "unacceptable" the Delhi Police explanation that it had not "raided" the state guest house and only responded to a complaint about beef being served there.
"The Delhi Police explanation is unacceptable. They have gone beyond their call of duty. They should have taken permission, examined before raiding. It's unacceptable," Mr Chandy told NDTV, adding, "We abide by the law. Will serve buffalo meet again from today at Kerala house."
The canteen at Kerala House
did not serve buffalo meat, a regular on its menu, on Tuesday, amid controversy after a team of 20 policemen landed up at the state guest house to investigate a complaint by activists of the fringe group, Hindu Sena, that beef was being served there.
Members of the group had visited the canteen and noticed "beef fry" scribbled in Malayalam on a handwritten menu.
Mr Chandy has in a stern letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanded action against the Delhi Police for "overstepping its brief."
"I would like to inform you that the Kerala House staff canteen serves authentic vegetarian and non-vegetarian Kerala cuisine and the items in the menu are entirely within law," Mr Chandy wrote. Sources said PM Modi's office has sought details on the incident from the union home ministry, which has charge of Delhi Police.
As lawmakers from Kerala protested on Tuesday, Mr Chandy, who belongs to the Congress, also won the support of two other chief ministers -
Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi and Bengal's Mamata Banerjee - who said the police action was an
"assault on the federal structure."
Amid the outrage and criticism, Delhi Police chief BS Bassi was
forced to defend the alacrity with which his force responded to the beef complaint. Mr Bassi said the police said they acted for the sake of law and order.
"We know no irregularities will take place at Kerala House, but it was our duty to investigate the matter since the complaint was on a serious issue... We had no option but to react very fast, as it could have been a situation which would lead to a communal flare up," the police chief said on Tuesday evening.