'Ready to kill or get killed to protect cow', says Telangana BJP MLA on opposing Osmania university beef fest

Opposing beef festival in Osmania University in Hyderabad, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Raja Singh has called it a political conspiracy.

The lone BJP MLA from the city who represents Goshamahal, has warned the organisers against hurting the sentiments of the Hindus. He said that people have the right to eat anything of their choice, but not to hurt religious sentiments of people in the name of their freedom of choice.

"We are ready to kill or get killed to protect cows. We have the right to stop cow killers. This festival is a political conspiracy for votes," he said.

He warned against such a festival to avoided Dadri type of incident from taking place in Telangana. Reiterating his stand, he said, “as Hindus, we have to stop beef festival."

He accused Telangana government of tacitly backing the cow slaughter houses. He said, “we believe in Shiva ji Maharaj. Lato ke bhoot baton se nahi mante. And this is the way to deal with people."

He also added that whether or not BJP supports him for maintaining the stand, he will continue opposing the festival. "I'm a Hindu first," he said.

Some student organisations have planned a beef festival at the University on December 10.

A delegation of BJP, VHP and Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, led by Raja Singh Lodh, submitted two memorandums to principal secretary Ranjeev R Acharya, who is also in charge vice-chancellor of Osmania University.

The delegation called on the officer at the Secretariat and demanded to stop Beef Festival. If the Beef Festival was permitted, the Hindu organisations should be allowed to conduct Gau Mata Puja (worshipping of mother cow) or Yagna on the OU campus, they demanded says the report.

“Some Left wing student organisations of OU have planned to conduct Beef Festival on OU campus and invited some controversial political leaders and writers for the same. Education institutions are temples where lakhs of students study. The university should ensure a peaceful environment on the campus. irrespective of caste and community," Raja Singh said in the memorandum.

A beef festival was organised in 2012 too which led to violence and clashes.