Dadri incident should not be given communal angle, says Mahesh Sharma

New Delhi: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Culture and Tourism Mahesh Sharma on Thursday urged the Opposition not to give a communal angle to the Dadri incident, in which a man was killed over alleged rumours that his family consumed and stored beef in their house.

“It is very unfortunate that, when the Opposition do not have any point to make, they bring this kind of thing. This should not be given a communal angle. I believe this incident took place due to some misunderstandings and should not be given a political colour,” Sharma told ANI here.

“The Opposition should not make childish comments on such sensitive issues. Definitely, the administration is somewhat responsible for this. This incident would not have turned so big, if inquiry was initiated at the very beginning. Such incidents of animal slaughter have been reported earlier in other villages as well. The police and the administration should initiate an inquiry into such incidents of stealing and killing of animals,” he added.

The 50-year-old father of an Indian Air Force personnel was beaten to death by a mob in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh, on Monday night, over alleged rumours that his family consumed and stored beef in their house.

The family has maintained that the meat stored in their fridge was mutton and not beef. Meanwhile, officials have sent the meat samples for a forensic test.(ANI)