A day after it was reported that Union Minister for state of Home Affairs, Kiren Rijuju slammed Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abaas Naqvi by saying “I eat beef, can anyone stop me?”, Rijiju claimed he was misquoted.
As reported by Times of India, Rijiju, on Wednesday, said,” I was misquoted by the media in Aizawl. I never said I eat beef. It’s completely wrong. My family does not eat beef either.”
However, a new audio file of the press conference in which the actual statement was made, has been released by The Indian Express which confirms to Rijiju’s claim of eating beef. The minister’s comments on beef can be heard from the 35th minute of the audio clip.
The statement was a reply to Rijiju’s colleague in Modi’s cabinet, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, who made a remark that those who were “dying” to eat beef should leave for Pakistan.