File photo: Union Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu.
Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said on Thursday that the Centre has no plan to ban beef across the country, amidst a row over Maharashtra government's decision to ban beef.
"The central government does not have any such plan. Local government should take a decision on a local basis and take care of sentiments of the people," he said at a press conference replying to a query whether the Centre would enforce a beef ban across the country.
Mr Naidu was in Raipur on a day-long visit of Chhattisgarh during which he took part in a series of programmes in Durg and Raipur districts, including inaugurating the 'Jankalyan Fair' showcasing achievements of the PM Modi government.
Maintaining that the BJP-led NDA government has created an environment of trust and hope among people, he alleged that the Congress-led UPA government had left behind an environment of despair.
"Development was on the backfoot during ten years of UPA rule. Leadership was lacking and they were not in any position to take any decision," he said.
"In the first year of the Narendra Modi government, people witnessed that this government has a direction and vision. It has ways and means to reach the masses. Global recognition has gone up and investments are coming to the country," he said.
Taking a dig at previous Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, without naming them, he said, "Our PM is working, dynamic, dedicated and decisive. Earlier PM used to preside and Madam used to decide, but now this situation has changed. The PM presides as well as decides".
Attacking Congress for dubbing PM Modi government as a "government of businessmen" in parliament, Mr Naidu said that businessmen are not the enemies of the country since both industry as well as agriculture are essential for development.
"They were shouting in parliament that the government belongs to businessmen. I ask Congress whether businessmen are enemies of our country. Ambani and Adani's business tenure is not merely of one year. Congress levels cheap allegations against the government," Mr Naidu, Urban Development Minister, said.
He also held a meeting with Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh, Public Works Department Minister Rajesh Munat, Urban Development Minister Amar Agrawal and senior officials at the Mantralaya to discuss various projects under the urban development department and others.
Earlier during the day, at a public welfare exhibition held at Bhilai in Durg district, he inaugurated the Durg-Bhilai city bus service under which 40 public transport buses will be operated.
Later, he inaugurated the Jan Kalyan Mela and an exhibition-cum-fair on the Centre's schemes and achievements at Sector-1 in Bhilai.