Federal protocol is now being heard in the din of noise surrounding the Delhi Police’s raid of the Kerala House canteen, resulting in the temporary removal of beef from the menu.
As political leaders from various parts of the country respond to the developments, there are indications that it could turn into a major bone of contention between the centre and the states, as politicians from Kerala, united by beef, take on the centre over what is being called an “attack on federal structure”.
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh demanding action against the police officials who raided Kerala House. He has said in the letter that the police officers overstepped the brief and conducted the raid without prior permission from the Resident Commissioner of the Kerala House.
“Kerala house is not a private restaurant. The property belongs to the Kerala government,” he had earlier said.
On Monday, a group of activists from the Hindu Sena complained to the Delhi Police that beef was being served in the canteen at Kerala House and they suspected it was cow meat. Police personnel inquired with the canteen staff, who said that it was buffalo meat, not cow meat that was being served. They have taken the dish off their menu.
Not just Oommen Chandy, other Chief Ministers too have come forward to criticise the infringement into the federal structure.
On Tuesday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal joined politicians from Kerala in condemning the incident. Kejriwal said: “I strongly condemn Delhi police raid on Kerala house. I agree with Kerala CM that Kerala House is a government establishment and not a private hotel. On Tuesday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal joined politicians from Kerala in condemning the incident. I strongly condemn Delhi police raid on Kerala house. I agree with Kerala CM that Kerala House is a government establishment and not a private hotel.
Delhi police had no business to enter Kerala house. It is an attack on federal structure. Delhi police is acting like BJP Sena. Will Delhi Police go and arrest a CM from a state Bhavan in Delhi if they suspect the CM to be eating something that BJP or Modi ji don't like?”
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee too has questioned the raid.
Communist Part of India Politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan has said that “Kerala House is the official state house of Government of Kerala at New Delhi, second most important structure after the secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram.”
“There is a certain discipline that has to be maintained between a central and state government. We know that the BJP has no respect for the federal system. A Malayali's self respect has been questioned” Vijayan added.
VM Sudheeran, the Congress party’s chief in Kerala said, “This is a fascist move that clearly challenges the federal structure. This is highly condemnable.”
Meanwhile, Members of Parliament (MP) from Kerala protested at the Kerala House.