Political outcry over police raid on Kerala House canteen

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee also tweeted: “I strongly condemn what happened in Delhi at Kerala Bhavan. An unwise and unhealthy attempt to curb fundamental rights of people. Intolerance.”

Congress and Left parties in Kerala also raised the issue. Congress deputy chief whip in the Lok Sabha, KC Venugopal, and CPI(M) deputy leader in Rajya Sabha, KN Balagopal, said they would take up the incident and raise the issue when Parliament meets next month.

Other leaders who slammed the incident included former Defence Minister AK Antony, state Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and KPCC president VM Sudheeran.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police commissioner BS Bassi rejected contention that the police “raided” Kerala House, following a complaint that its canteen was serving beef and described police action as a “preventive measure”.  “It was not a raid. It in fact was a preventive measure as per our standing operating procedures,” he said. 

On being asked about reports that the state guesthouse removed “beef curry” from their menu before police could reach, he said, “I don’t have any knowledge about it.”