Bernard quits BJP after ‘beef fest’ row

SHILLONG: BJP’s West Garo Hills district president Bernard N. Marak has resigned from the party after he came under pressure for his remark that he would conduct a beef festival to celebrate Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s three years in power.
When contacted, Marak said on Wednesday he did not receive any showcause notice from the party. “I have already resigned from the post of district president and the party,” he added.
Earlier in the day, the party’s national spokesperson and Meghalaya in-charge, Nalin Kohli, told media persons here that Marak would be sacked for his comment or the party would welcome the Garo Hills leader’s decision to quit BJP. “How can slaughtering of animals be the ground to celebrate three years of sabka sath sabka vikas,” Kohli said.
The national BJP leader said though Marak was right in saying many in the party eat beef, it was not on BJP’s agenda to run markets that sell beef or determine price of potato in the market. Marak had said on May 28 that if BJP came to power in 2018, it would reduce prices of meat and legalise slaughter houses. Kohli said on Wednesday Marak’s statement was his personal view and the State President, Shibun Lyngdoh, has sought an explanation from the Garo Hills leader.