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BJP has no problem with Kerala consuming beef: newly inducted union minister Alphons

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9 years ago

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Alphons

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]– By Abhishek Kumar

With eyes set on expanding political base in the south, north-east India, is BJP trying for an image makeover as far as food choices are concerned?

Newly inducted Union minister for tourism, Alphons Kannanthanam, has asserted that the BJP “doesn’t have a problem” with consumption of beef in his home state, Kerala.

The former IAS officer, who was a surprise entrant in Team Modi’s cabinet expansion on Sunday when he was roped in as a minister of state with independent charge, rejected all claims of the BJP being against the consumption of beef, hailing the party’s government at the Centre as “very inclusive” and insisting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message to the people is clear – “believe whatever you want, I will protect you”.

“Kerala is a beef-eating state. It is not going to stop eating beef. It will continue to eat beef. BJP doesn’t have a problem,” Alphons told media persons on Monday, while adding that Goa, which is also a BJP-ruled state had also not banned the consumption of beef.

On the face of it, the comments by Alphons would appear as being far from reality. Over the past three years, ever since Narendra Modi led the BJP to a stunning victory in the Lok Sabha polls, the incidents of mob lynchings against those suspected of consuming beef or involved in cow slaughter have seen a sharp rise across India. Add to this are the spiteful and often threatening statements by a string of BJP leaders, including UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, party MPs Sakshi Maharaj, etc, against those who support beef consumption.

But then, can the emphatic assertion by Alphons have a greater meaning?

The former babu, who has an excellent rapport within the politically crucial Syrian Christian community of Kerala and members of the Church in the state where the Christian clergy plays in important role in elections, is the first ever minister in a BJP-led central government to belong to Kerala, a state where the party has been desperate to make inroads in.

Kiren Rijiju

The tourism minister’s comments should be viewed along with similar comments made by another Union minister, Kiren Rijiju, who is the party’s face in Arunachal Pradesh, another beef eating state. Back in 2015 when the BJP was facing sharp criticism from all quarters on its opposition to beef consumption and cow slaughter, Rijiju had publicly declared his love for beef and claimed that no one can stop him from eating the meat.

More recently, the Manohar Parrikar government in Goa refused to ban consumption of beef while Union home minister Rajnath Singh too indicated that the Centre was not for a country-wide beef ban, while he acknowledged India’s diversity, albeit without explicitly mentioning the words beef or cow slaughter.

So, if Alphons’ statement is to be viewed in light of all these comments by other BJP leaders, what does it suggest?

Modi and Shah

As BJP national president Amit Shah continues with his nationwide tour with the intent of expanding the BJP footprint across India in the run up to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, could be BJP be opening up to a dilution of its well-known stand against consumption of beef? Several parts of India – especially Kerala, the north-eastern states, parts of Karnataka (though the BJP is now a major player there), Jammu and Kashmir (where again the BJP is in a shaky coalition albeit with electoral presence only in the Hindu-dominated Jammu) – are known to be major beef consumers. In many of these states and regions, the BJP has been struggling to make political inroads and both Narendra Modi and Amit Shah have been on an overdrive to expand the BJP base here.

By showing the party as being open, even if selectively, to people’s choice of what they wish to eat and letting ministers assert this in media interactions, could the BJP be eyeing an image-makeover that will ultimately make it more acceptable in areas where it currently is seen as a political pariah?

The saffron party’s national spokesperson and in charge of Meghalaya unit Nalin Kohli was among the first BJP leaders to publicly declare that the Centre wasn’t making any attempt to bring a country-wide legislation against cow slaughter, asserting that doing so was the express purview of respective state governments.

“Every state government that decides to have a law or not have a law on cow slaughter, does so keeping in mind local food habits… in the north-east too every state government will keep this in account,” Kohli had said.

Of course a large number of states – mostly BJP-ruled, like Maharashtra, MP, Gujarat, UP, etc – have banned cow slaughter. But with elections to be won and its presence to be expanded in beef-consuming states, are Modi and Shah now willing to make selective exemptions in the party’s stand against cow slaughter?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Parliament Monsoon Session 2026: Anti-paper leak Bill to be introduced in Lok Sabha today

The Lok Sabha will introduce and consider the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, proposing stricter punishment, fast-track courts and stronger safeguards against paper leaks.

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2 hours ago

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July 27, 2026

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The Lok Sabha is set to take up the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 for consideration and passage on Monday as the Centre moves to tighten laws against paper leaks and examination-related fraud.

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh will seek the House’s permission to introduce the Bill before moving it for consideration and passing during the day’s legislative business.

The proceedings of the Lok Sabha are scheduled to begin at 11 am with the Question Hour, during which ministers will respond to listed oral questions.

Bill proposes stricter action against paper leaks

The proposed amendment aims to strengthen transparency and integrity in the public examination system through stricter legal provisions while safeguarding the interests of students.

Among its major provisions are:

  • Imprisonment of up to 10 years for those found guilty.
  • A fine of up to Rs.10 crore.
  • Confiscation of assets of convicted offenders.
  • A mechanism to ensure verdicts in such cases are delivered within three months through fast-track courts.

The proposed changes follow the Union Cabinet’s approval of the legislation and related measures aimed at tackling paper leaks and examination fraud with stricter punishment and expedited trials.

Supreme Court judges amendment Bill also on agenda

Apart from the anti-paper leak legislation, the Lok Sabha is also scheduled to consider the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026.

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal will move the Bill for consideration. It seeks to further amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956.

Ministers to present implementation reports

Several Union ministers are also expected to place statements before the House on the implementation of recommendations made by various Parliamentary Standing Committees.

Among them:

  • Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will present an update on recommendations related to the Ministry of Tourism.
  • Jayant Chaudhary will report on recommendations concerning the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
  • Pankaj Chaudhary will table a statement on recommendations relating to the Ministry of Finance.
  • Suresh Gopi will present implementation updates on recommendations made by the Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas.

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Who are the experts in Nandan Nilekani-led PM Modi’s exam reform task force?

PM Modi has constituted a six-member task force led by Nandan Nilekani to recommend reforms for the National Testing Agency. Here’s a look at the experts on the panel.

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2 hours ago

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July 27, 2026

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Following the announcement of a high-powered task force to reform India’s examination system, the Centre has brought together experts from technology, space research, intelligence, education, cybersecurity and logistics to recommend structural changes for the National Testing Agency (NTA).

The panel, led by Infosys co-founder and technology expert Nandan Nilekani, was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi a day after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned amid nationwide protests over the alleged NEET paper leak.

In a video message shared on social media, the Prime Minister said the government aims to make examinations more reliable, transparent and technology-driven. He said the task force would submit recommendations to improve the credibility of upcoming examinations at the earliest.

Nandan Nilekani to lead the panel

Nandan Nilekani, co-founder and non-executive chairman of Infosys, will head the task force. Widely recognised for leading the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and playing a key role in the development of Aadhaar, Nilekani is expected to contribute his expertise in technology, digital infrastructure and data security to the examination reform process.

Former ISRO chief S Somanath

Former Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman S Somanath, an aerospace engineer, is also part of the panel. During his tenure, ISRO successfully carried out the Chandrayaan-3 mission. His experience in executing complex, high-precision missions is expected to help strengthen quality control and multi-layered verification processes in examinations.

Former IB director Tapan Deka

Former Intelligence Bureau Director Tapan Kumar Deka has been included for his experience in intelligence and security. A former IPS officer with a postgraduate degree in Physics, he is expected to provide inputs on strengthening intelligence gathering and cyber monitoring to curb organised examination fraud and paper leak networks.

IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti

V Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, is another member of the panel. A computer science academic, he has led initiatives related to microprocessor development and information security at the institute. His expertise is expected to support measures aimed at enhancing cybersecurity and protecting examination software and digital infrastructure.

Former Education Secretary Anita Karwal

Former Education Secretary Anita Karwal brings administrative and academic policy experience to the task force. A retired IAS officer from the Gujarat cadre, she is expected to contribute recommendations on examination policies, answer-key mechanisms, evaluation standards and improvements in the functioning of examination centres.

Logistics expert Amrit Lal Meena

Retired bureaucrat Amrit Lal Meena, who previously served as Bihar’s Chief Secretary and as Special Secretary (Logistics) in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, completes the six-member panel. His expertise in supply chain management is expected to help strengthen the secure printing, storage and transportation of question papers through tamper-resistant logistics systems.

The multidisciplinary panel has been tasked with recommending structural reforms aimed at improving transparency, security and reliability in India’s examination system.

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Amit Shah praises Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, says Nation above post

Amit Shah hailed Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation as Union Education Minister, saying BJP places the nation and students above any position while highlighting the government’s commitment to examination reforms.

Published

1 day ago

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July 26, 2026

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Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday praised Dharmendra Pradhan’s decision to step down as Union Education Minister, saying the move reflected the Bharatiya Janata Party’s commitment to placing the nation and students above any political position.

In a post on X, Shah said that for BJP workers, the country, its youth and students are more important than any office. He described Pradhan’s resignation as an example of the party’s guiding principle of prioritising national interest over personal ambition.

Shah highlights government’s focus on exam reforms

Amit Shah said the Narendra Modi-led government respects the sentiments of students and remains committed to strengthening the examination system following concerns over alleged paper leaks.

He said the Centre has introduced strict measures to ensure severe punishment for those involved in examination paper leaks and expressed confidence that these steps would deliver justice to students who cleared the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).

Praises Pradhan’s work as Education Minister

Recalling Dharmendra Pradhan’s tenure, Shah highlighted several initiatives undertaken during his time in the Education Ministry. He credited Pradhan with helping implement the National Education Policy (NEP), expanding PM SHRI schools, promoting digital education, strengthening skill development and improving coordination between industry and academic institutions.

Shah also said Pradhan worked towards making examinations more inclusive and student-centric, adding that his tenure reflected his commitment to the vision of a developed India.

Resignation follows NEET controversy

Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation comes amid nationwide protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and growing demands for accountability.

The resignation has triggered political reactions across party lines. While opposition parties have described the development as a result of sustained student protests, BJP leaders have projected it as an example of accountability and commitment to national interest.

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