Registering a strong protest against the “raid” over an allegation that beef was being served there, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Tuesday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, terming the episode “highly objectionable”.
In his terse note, Chandy wrote, “I feel that the action by the Delhi Police is highly objectionable and they have clearly overstepped their brief.” Chandy said that a few unidentified persons accompanied by Delhi Police officials on Monday evening came to Kerala House and disrupted the functioning of the canteen, alleging that cooked cow meat was being served.” Chandy claimed that the complaint was based on “wrong information”.
The Chief Minister complained that the “raid” was conducted without permission or prior information to the local state government officials. The Kerala government has lodged a complaint with the Delhi Police Commissioner too.
Chandy’s note mentioned to the PM that the Kerala House canteen served authentic vegetarian and non-vegetarian state cuisine and the items on the menu were in accordance with and “entirely within the confines of the existing law”. He demanded action against those responsible for the act.
Criticism also poured in from several quarters as Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, “Delhi Police had no business to enter the Kerala House. It is an attack on the federal structure. Delhi Police is acting like BJP sena.”