Under pressure for beef festival remark, BJP’s district president Bernard N Marak resigns

GUWAHATI: Under pressure for his remark that he will organise a beef festival to celebrate Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s three years in power, BJP’s West Garo Hills district president Bernard N. Marak resigned from the party.

Marak had created furore when he couple of days back in a statement stated that if the saffron party comes to power in the State, rather than banning beef it will reduce the price of the meat for the sake of the poor.

Marak had stated that the BJP will regulate the prices of not only beef but other meat. "In Meghalaya most of the BJP leaders eat beef and the Centre cannot enforce a ban on its consumption. The question of banning beef does not arise in a state like Meghalaya, especially in Garo Hills"

Shibun Lyngdoh, BJP state unit President confirmed while talking to ET, "Marak has resigned from the party."

Centre's notification on sale and purchase of cattle at animal markets for slaughter has evoked sharp reaction in Meghalaya with some BJP leaders expressing their reservation on the notification in Christianity dominated Meghalaya.

BJP national spokesperson Nalin Kohli blamed congress for spreading rumour about the beef ban.

Kohli added, "BJP has no agenda except development and the Congress government does not want to speak on the topic or its track record as a government. They are trying to communalise it and create false propaganda on social media."