Violence Breaks Out At Indian Beef-Eating Festival [Hindu Caste System Confronts Beef]

BBCNews ^ | April 16, 2012

[Steelfish]

16 April 2012 Violence Breaks Out At Indian Beef-Eating Festival

Dalits students argue they should have freedom to eat what they want A beef-eating festival at a university in the Indian city of Hyderabad has led to clashes between rival sets of Hindu students, police say.

They say that Hindus who regard cows as sacred fought with low caste Dalit groups who organised the event.

About 1,500 people were fed beef biriyani as part of the festival late on Sunday evening.

Dalit groups want beef on the campus hostel menu. Right wing Hindu groups say eating beef is not Hindu practice.

Last year's event at Osmania University also ended in violence.

The BBC's Omer Farooq in the city says that says there has been tension for a few days now on the campus.

Our correspondent says that has been the case ever since organisers announced that the festival - held over the weekend - would go ahead. Right wing Hindu groups soon afterwards declared their intention to stop it.

The clashes that were feared erupted on Sunday evening and carried on late into the early hours of Monday morning, reports say.

Batons and teargas Police say that the violence began when about 100 members of the right wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) marched towards the festival ground and were stopped by police.

The protesters then set two vehicles on fire and threw stones at police, who used batons and teargas to beat back the crowd.

Senior police officer Amit Garg said the situation is now under control.

Protesting students say that Hinduism is being besmirched by beef eaters

Dalit groups want beef included in food served at the campus hostel. Festival organiser B Sudarshan told the BBC that they were involved in a fight for the "freedom to eat".

[Repeat Offender]

Don't these people know they shouldn't waste food? There's starving children in In right outside.

sorry couldn't resist

[BenLurkin]

[martin_fierro]

Ich bin ein beef:it'swhat'sfordinner

[Lurker]

Sacred cows

[VRWC For Truth]

[Fiji Hill]

About 1,500 people were fed beef biriyani as part of the festival late on Sunday evening.

If I were in the neighborhood, I would have moseyed over there. I love beef biriyani.

[a fool in paradise]

Right wing Hindu groups say eating beef is not Hindu practice.

Barbecue riots.

Simmer down now, there are enough ribs for everyone.

[Fiji Hill]

Sacred cows

They make the best hamburgers.

[entropy12]

When the 1 Billion Hindu’s start eating beef, prices will go even higher. They are high already. So let them believe in sacred cows.

[GeronL]

lol.

That’s a good one.

[GeronL]

Holy moley

Sacred Cow burgers

I am going to start me a franchise!!

Do you want Delhi or New Delhi sauce on that?

[UCANSEE2]

[TigersEye]

Where would the beef be being?

[Conservative4Ever]

Or the secret sacred sauce. :-)

[Ramius]

Yah know... I get the whole thing with east Indians and beef... But I still have to wonder... Most of the east Indian guys I’ve known really seem to have a thing for leather jackets. Wassupwitdat?

[Slings and Arrows]

Beef curry for everyone!

[Steelfish]

And leather slippers too? Indian have this ugly native habit of walking around to stores and malls in sandals.

[shibumi]

It's toasted and ready for whatever meat like substance might be available ....

[shibumi]

Bin, Bun, Ban, Ben .....whatever.