The issue of eating beef unveils underlying Hindu-Muslim tensions in India.
Mahatma Gandhi once said: “If someone was to ask me what the most important outward manifestation of Hinduism was, I would suggest that it was the idea of cow protection.” For most Indians, therefore, cows are revered and protected, and so beef is not on the menu.
But for the 180 million Indian Muslims, production of beef has been a lucrative industry. The so-called Pink Revolution has divided India along religious and cultural lines, and has fueled Hindu extremism.
Bowing to pressure, several states have reintroduced a ban on beef, provoking protests from the Muslim population. Hindu vigilante groups have also targeted beef traders, with people being killed by neighbors and even friends.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Fair Observer’s editorial policy.
Photo Credit: Danm12 / Shutterstock.com
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