Beef-Muslim row: NCP seeks Prez intervention; Khattar's ouster

Mumbai, Oct 16: After Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar's reported remarks on beef and Muslims triggered an outrage, the NCP today appealed to President Pranab Mukherjee to intervene in the matter and ensure his ouster.

"Hindustan does not belong to Khattar alone. The way it belongs to him, it belongs to every Muslim of the country. With these comments, he has broken the oath taken by him before taking over as the Chief Minister in which he said that he will treat everybody equal," party spokesperson Nawab Malik told reporters here.

It seems that the CM was speaking the language of a Sangh Pracharak, he added. Malik alleged that during Khattar's tenure, attacks on churches in the state and atrocities on the minority community have escalated.

"Riots are happening in Muslim villages, churches are being attacked and atrocities on Dalits are increasing. The situation is such that Dalits now want to convert to escape these atrocities," he said.

Malik said that Khattar has no moral right to continue as the CM of the state. "He should immediately resign from the CM's post. If that doesn't happen then Prime Minister Narendra Modi should ask him to resign," he said.

"We appeal to the President to intervene in this matter as life of minorities and Dalits is horrible in Haryana which is dangerous for the country," Malik said.

In an interview to a newspaper, the Haryana Chief Minister had said, "Muslims can continue to live in this country, but they will have to give up eating beef" because "cow is an article of faith here".

However, the BJP leader later said his remarks have been twisted. "My words have been distorted. I never made such a statement. But if the sentiments of anyone have been hurt with my words, I am ready to express regret," Khattar said.

PTI