Thiruvananthapuram: A day after BJP candidate in the Malappuram Lok Sabha by-poll Adv. N Sreeprakash kicked up a storm with his "quality beef" remark, an embarrassed state leadership distanced itself from the controversial statement and said a clarification would be sought from him.
"I do not know what exactly has he said but I will ask him about it. I am on my way to Malappuram," BJP president Kummanam Rajasekharan told PTI.
"We do not have a separate stand on the issue. We (state leadership) go by the national party policy. However, I need to know what the candidate has exactly said. What I understand is that he talked about modernising the abattoirs," he added.
There are several slaughterhouses functioning illegally, Rajasekharan said, adding that Sreeprakash had talked about efforts to legalise and modernise them.
"Food is a matter of individual preference. People follow different food habits in Kerala. It is not an issue to be discussed at the time of elections," he said.
Sreeprakash had reportedly said in Malappuram that he would offer "quality beef" in the district if voted to Parliament in the April 12 by-poll and that slaughterhouses would be made air-conditioned to ensure the quality of meat.