COIMBATORE: Puthiya Tamilagam founder and president K Krishnasamy on Tuesday demanded that social justice minister Vanni Arasu withdraw his remarks suggesting that serving beef in social justice hostels would be “considered.”In a statement, Krishnasamy said the minister’s comments had brought a “personal preference” into public debate as though it were a general student demand. He said the idea of considering beef in hostels was “wrong,” “condemnable” and “unfit for consideration.”He warned that any move to implement such a measure would invite “severe consequences” and could create a situation where the minister would be unable to continue in office.According to Krishnasamy, food habits vary from individual to individual and community to community. “While many non-vegetarians accept chicken and mutton, beef is not a common food in Tamil Nadu and is not part of the state’s broader culture,” he stated. He described beef as a preference limited to certain individuals and communities.Krishnasamy recalled that during his tenure as an MLA between 1996 and 2001, he had raised concerns over student welfare and helped secure an increase in the monthly food allocation from Rs 150 to Rs 450 “which improved food quality.”Noting that nearly 30 years had passed since then and food costs had risen, he said hostel menus should ensure balanced nutrition, including proteins, vitamins, minerals and fats. He reiterated his long-standing demand for daily eggs and at least twice weekly servings of chicken and mutton.
