Bhupalpalli Collector’s advice to eat beef sparks controversy

​Bhupalpalli: The District Collector, A Murali’s advice to the public to consume beef (the culinary name for meat from cattle) to maintain good health has sparked controversy with Archaka Samakhya leaders strongly opposing his remarks.

The Collector, while addressing an awareness rally on tuberculosis (TB) prevention at Etutunagaram mandal headquarters in the district on Friday, asked the villagers to ensure that the protein rich foods such as red-gram, meat and eggs are included in their diet to fight against the disease.

He went on to add that if anyone found meat to be expensive to buy they should consume wild boar (also known as the wild swine) and beef, the meat from cows, as an alternate. “Normally SC/STs used to consume these, but with the spread of Brahminical culture they were prevented from eating beef”.

“I am saying this because it is a fact, during my night stays in the villages of Mahbubnagar and Ranga Reddy districts the villagers, mainly elders have complained that they were not being allowed to eat beef,” Murali said.

The villagers felt that when they were eating beef they used to be in good health and attended their daily labour and agriculture work actively. But after stopping eating beef they found themselves in poor health, the Collector explained.

“What are the foods traditionally being consumed as part of your diet eat them. They would keep you in good health. Some are taking deekshas and stop eating meat. All such practices are trash and don’t give in to them,” Murali told the villagers.

As per the Central government regulations hunting and consuming wild pigs was not a crime and it won’t attract any legal actions. In Bhupalpalli district wild boars are huge in numbers and causing trouble to farmers but fearing reproach from the society, the villagers were not eating them, he said.

Responding to the Collector’s statement, Telangana Archaka Samakya leaders B Seshagiri Rao and G Upendra Sharma have objected his remarks. “We leave the issue to the discretion of the Collector. But being a public servant he should be careful while speaking on sensitive issues in public domain. His words reflect the bad trend in the society,” they felt.

Tenders apology
During late evening hours, the Collector expressed regrets for his comments referring to the Brahminical culture. “What I wanted to tell was that eating meat was good for health. If my comments hurt members of Brahmin community I apologise,” he said.