JNU students' group wants pork and beef served in canteen

To press for its demand, 'New Materialist' plans to defy law and organise a beef, pork food festival on the varsity campus

With recommencement of elections for the students' union in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) after four years, some off-beat political activities too have gained momentum on the campus. A group of students that calls itself 'New Materialist' is up in arms against the varsity administration. However, their remonstration has nothing to do with the fee structure or facilities in hostel, but to gratify their taste buds. The group wants the administration to allow serving beef and pork in the canteen.

The group had organised a public meeting last week, wherein it was decided that the group would do all to ensure its demand is met. Surprisingly, it is said that some professors too had lent their support to the New Materialists. "The JNU campus was always dominated by the Left. Scared of losing votes, the student's union never bothered about issues that are of concern to the minority community," said Inba Karunko, a member of the group.
He added that the varsity administration has prepared a jacketed menu that influences Brahmanic taste. "When chicken and mutton can be served in the campus, why not beef and pork?" Karunko questioned, adding that just because the majority community doesn't approve of it, doesn't mean students can't eat what they like.
Karunko claimed there are thousands of students from Northeast and south India who eat pork and beef.

"Respecting the need of such students, serving beef and pork should be allowed on the campus," he said. The group has also started a Facebook page to garner support for its demand. "We'll soon start a signature campaign and present our demand before the administration. To start with, at least one dhaba that serves beef and pork should be started on the campus," said Suraj Beri, another group member. He added that later they'd demand to add beef and pork in the hostel food menu.
When reminded that consuming cow meat is illegal in the city, a student leader said, "Such laws are made for political reasons. We are against this law. In fact, to defy the law and to press for our demand, we are planning to organise a beef, pork food festival in the university campus."

Beef sentiment becomes ‘fleshpoint’ at Osmania

After the Telangana agitation, it is the “beef sentiment” that is doing the rounds on the Osmania University campus which has been calm for over eight months since the dilution of the agitation for a separate state.
 

The flashpoint this time is the demand of 2,000-strong Dalit students of the university for beef to be served in university canteens which is opposed by the Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).

In protest against the upper class attitude, Dalit students plan to hold a “beef festival” on the campus in April to coincide with the birth anniversary celebrations of Babu Jagjivan Ram on April 5, Dr B R Ambedkar on April 14 and Jyotiba Phule on April 11.

The Dalit students plan to cook beef in the open and serve it to the gathering as an expression of their cultural identity and traditional right.

But the university authorities have refused permission for such a festival in the face of hostile postures by the ABVP.

University Vice-Chancellor S Satyanarayana said the issue was very sensitive and, given the history of caste tensions on the campus, the authorities fear that the issue may become a flashpoint for another bout of campus mob fury.

Dalit campaigners, however, say by denying permission, the university is resorting to cultural imposition on Dalits and treating them as apartheid in their own land.

“Dalit students have a right to practise their food habits as protected under the Constitution,” said Dalit writer and academic Kancha Ilaiah.

At present, chicken, mutton and eggs are served as part of the non-vegetarian menu at the university hostels. The politics of food on the Osmania campus, known as the nerve centre of Telangana movement and also a hotbed of radicalism, has triggered a totally new vista of agitation.

Charging the authorities with imposing a culture of “food fascism” prominent Dalit activist  Bojja Tarakam said it was an attempt to lampooning the Dalits in the name of caste and religion.

“Beef has nothing to do with hurting any sentiments as majority of meat eating population in the world, including India, are beef lovers,” he said. The Osmania vice-chancellor has asked senior faculty members to hold talks with the student representatives and sort out the matters amicably.

In the past, there were some instances of scuffle between the ABVP and Dalit students on the issue of organising beef festival on the campus and the event was put off. “In their petition submitted to the vice-chancellor, the Dalit students alleged that their food habits and traditions were being ridiculed and insulted by ABVP members,” said a university spokesman.

MP law: 7 yrs in jail for eating beef, cops can raid on mere suspicion

Citing public interest and communal harmony, the BJP government argued that existing legislation provided for only a three-year jail term for cow slaughter and had several flaws. The state government amended it in July 2010 and sent it to the President. The new provisions will enable authorities to punish transporters, their employees and drivers with jail terms from six months to three years.

Cow slaughter is now a serious offence and could invite a jail term of up to seven years in Madhya Pradesh. Consuming, keeping or transporting beef of any cow progeny will invite the same punishment. A police official not below the rank of a head constable — or any person authorised by a competent authority — has the power to enter, inspect and search any premises “where he has reason to believe that an offence (under this Act) has been, is being or is likely to be committed and take necessary action’’. 

These stringent provisions will be notified after the Madhya Pradesh Gau-Vansh Vadh Pratishedh (Sanshodhan) Bill, 2010 received the President’s assent on December 22. The Centre felt that raiding premises merely on the assumption that an offence is “likely” could be misused and recommended that such power be limited to cases when an offence had taken place or was taking place. The amended legislation has disregarded the recommendation.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/go-seva/895107/