Narendra Modi reprimands erring BJP leaders over beef remarks

Prime Minister

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday reprimanded five BJP leaders, whose comments on beef have embarrassed the party, and told them to stop making controversial remarkdra Modis. It was BJP president Amit Shah, who conveyed Modi's stern message in separate meetings held at the party office with the five leaders, including Haryana Chief Minister M L Khattar.

Upset: Modi passed on his stern message to the erring leaders via BJP president Amit Shah. File Pic

Others who face Modi's wrath were ministers Mahesh Sharma and Sanjeev Baliyan, MP Sakshi Maharaj and Uttar Pradesh legislator Sangeet Som.

Sources claimed Shah told the leaders that Modi was ‘upset' with the kind of remarks they had made related to beef consumption in the wake of last month's murder of a Muslim man in Uttar Pradesh.

The deceased, Mohammad Iqlakh (50), was dragged out of his house in Dadri and was lynched by a mob following rumours that he had slaughtered a cow for beef. His son was also seriously injured in the attack. As the killing ignited widespread condemnation, some BJP leaders made comments that appeared to justify the gory murder.

After meeting Shah, Som told reporters, "We were called by the BJP president and discussions were held on party matters."
The hardline views over beef and Muslims have come at a time when Modi is trying to woo voters in the ongoing Bihar polls on a platform of development and oneness.