Tamil Nadu: Beef-biryani stalls emerge at Chennai Food Festival after protests

Addressing the controversy, Subramanian said that no caterer had offered to set up a beef-biryani stall at the food festival, organised at the Island Grounds.

The minister added, “Food is one’s personal choice and no one can stop it. I, too, eat beef. If anyone had shown interest, we would have permitted them to set up a beef-biryani counter.”

After Subramanian’s statement on the controversy, the organiser — the Tamil Nadu Food Safety Department — permitted two beef-biryani stalls at the venue on the second day of the festival.

A representative from one of the beef biryani stalls told South First, “We approached the organisers without delay after we learnt that the health and family welfare minister had given the nod to set up beef-biryani stalls at the food festival.”

Tamil Nadu Dalit Liberation Movement president S Karuppaiah on Friday expressed his discontent for beef stalls apparently not being allowed at the festival.

He told South First, “Beef is a staple food among Dalits and people from lower castes. Not allowing beef stalls at the food festival is discrimination.”

Karuppaiah added that he was surprised to know that not a single person in the entire city applied to set up a beef stall at the festival.

“There is no need for the government to organise a food festival if the food widely eaten by people of the state is not allowed,” he said.

Viduthalai Chiruthai Katchi (VCK) general secretary Vanniyarasu said, “It is time for the DMK to prove that it is not biased and protects social justice.”