Haryana CM Offers ‘Regrets’ On Beef Statement

Chandigarh, Oct 16: On Friday, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar tried to wriggle out of the situation by saying his statement was “distorted” but then finally offered his “regret” after finding himself cornered over his controversial stand on consumption of beef.

On Friday, an English daily quoted for Khattar by saying that “Muslims can continue to live in this country, but they will have to give up eating beef as the cow is an article of faith here”.

“Haryana Chief Minister Mr Manohar Lal has denied having made any such statement and said that his words and sentiments have been distorted,” an official statement said.

On October 26, Khattar being a political greenhorn and first-time legislator, completes a year as a chief minister.

On September 28, the statement was made by a mob on suspicion that he ate beef, in the subject to the lynching of a Muslim man in Dadri district of Uttar Pradesh.

But once, there was a recorded interview (in audio) by Khattar  was released by the daily and played by news channels, making it clear he certainly made the controversial statement, Khattar told the media here: “However, even if you believe that if any of the words were spoken by me, there was no intention (of hurting anyone’s sentiments). If anyone’s sentiments are hurt by my statements, I am ready to offer my regrets for this.”

Later, Khattar quoted a statement saying, “We understand and respect the feelings of every religion and community. I did not make any statement which would have hurt anyone’s sentiments. However, if anyone or any community has felt hurt, I regret the same”.

Khattar added he had “full devotion in the practice of ‘Sarva Dharma Sambhav’ and believed in taking along all sections of society”.

A former RSS pracharak, Khattar had said that the “cow, Bhagwad Gita and goddess Saraswati were articles of faith for the Hindu community”.

He had maintained that the Indian Constitution, which had no provision to ban cow slaughter or consumption of beef, however, had a provision that no one should do anything that offends the faith of another religion.

Last year overlooking the claims of more experienced leaders, Khattar was chosen by the Bharatiya Janata Party to head its first government in Haryana.