KOCHI: The ‘beef-intolerance,’ it seems, has officially reached Kerala after the government-controlled Meat Products of India (MPI), having nearly 500 outlets across the state, received a threat to discontinue sales of beef with immediate effect or face dire consequences.
Coming within days after the ‘raid’ on Kerala House in New Delhi, the authorities are not taking any chance and have asked for police protection, besides lodging complaints with the minister and the Principal Secretary.
“Given the times we are living in, MPI is not taking any chance,” company managing director M P John told ‘Express.’ “This is the first such instance of threat or any incident at an MPI outlet since the company was formed in the late 60s,” he said. John said the company offers meat and meat-based products that are allowed to be sold, including pork, chicken, mutton and beef. Interestingly, under ‘beef,’ MPI sells only buffalo and bull meat and not cow meat. “We don’t sell cow meat as meat of buffalo and bull is tastier and healthier,” he said. Two men wearing helmets visited the direct outlet of MPI in Eechamukku, Kakkanad, on Friday and asked them to stop selling beef. “They asked for beef. Our employees thought they were customers, but the two threatened to destroy the outlet if beef is not removed within 24 hours,” John said. Since the two were wearing helmets, the employees could not recognise them. “We have lodged a complaint with the police. To instill confidence in the staff some of our senior officials, including the marketing manager, visited the outlet,” he said. Kochi City Police Commissioner M P Dinesh said MPI has not approached him seeking special police protection for its outlets. ‘’I’m aware about the company’s complaint at the Thrikkakara police station. The investigation is on,” he told ‘Express’. ‘‘We are vigilant on incidents such as the beef issue which can flare up. We are taking all measures to guard against this,” he said. The BJP state unit chose to stay away from the controversy reiterating that the party was not against beef consumption in Kerala. BJP state president V Muraleedharan asked the state government to probe into the matter. “We are not against beef ban in Kerala,” he said. MPI has nearly 500 outlets and three direct outlets - three in Thiruvananthapuram, one in Ernakulam, where the threat took place, and one at its headquarters at Koothattukulam.