WHIPLASH: Maneka can't stop courting controversy
Union Minister Maneka Gandhi has claimed that money made from beef exports is used to fund terror activities
Union Minister Maneka Gandhi stirred up a hornet's nest with her remarks that India was the world's largest beef exporter. But she didn't stop there.
In an address to the valedictory lecture at the India for Animals conference in Jaipur, the Union Minister claimed controversially the money made from beef exports was going in to fund terror activities.
"It is going into terrorism; it is going into bomb making. It is going into killing us. Why we are allowing this?"
While many are used to Maneka's impassioned statements for the protection of animals, the current remarks may have more to do with politics.
Indeed, the remarks come after BJP president Amit Shah dropped the two-time MP Varun Gandhi as general secretary.
The party also ignored Maneka's statement that UP would improve if Varun was made its Chief Minister, indeed it's believed she was given a stern warning not to make such statements.
So what does this statement mean? It suggests the Union Minister is trying to cozy up to PM Modi, as her views on slaughterhouses, seemingly dovetail with his.
While campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls, Modi had noted that subsidies to slaughter houses, was ruining the village economy.
Secondly, though the Minister has said that "beef exporting" was a trade of "Indians" and not one particular community, there is a real worry that extremist elements could hijack her statements to incite violence.
Maneka must be reined in for the country and the party's own good. The problem is that doesn't seem to be likely anytime soon.
Maneka's flair for over-the-top theatrics – especially when it comes to animal's right causes – has been there right throughout her political career.
Her remarks, during the UPA regime, that "we are drinking poison" (in reference to milk) and her glee at stopping animal dissection in school and college education shows this is a woman who brooks no reasoning when it comes to animals.
Since she is now a Union Minister, one will sadly have to put up with more such outbursts from her in the future.
