'Rishis, maharishis' used to eat beef: RJD leader

Patna: In what can bring in huge embarrassment for Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh on Saturday said that in Vedas it is mentioned that 'rishis' and 'maharishis' used to consume beef.

"It's written in Vedas that Rishi-Maharshi (saints) also used to eat beef... There is no point discussing it at present (at a time when elections are held)," he said.

Singh's comments come at a time when Lalu himself is facing huge flak from his political opponents for stoking a controversy saying Hindus too eat beef.

Prasad, however, said that beef does not mean 'gomans' (cow meat) and those who eat meat do not differentiate between 'gomans' and goat meat.

He also said that those who eat meat are not civilised.

"Those who eat meat are not sabhya (civilised) people. Poor people eat meat to beat their hunger... Those who go outside (the country) eat beef. Even Hindus eat beef. There is no difference between beef and goat meat," he told reporters earlier this month.

Lalu who has turned a vegetarian after being a non-vegetarian, advocated that "nobody should eat meat as it is not good for health".

Polls to the 243-seat Bihar Assembly would be held on October 12, 16, 28, November 1 and 5. The term of the current Assembly expires on November 29.

There are over 6.68 crore voters in the state, of whom as many as 2.04 crore voters belong to the age group of 18 to 29 years.