Labour Minister Santosh Lad on Sunday said that India ranks second in the world for beef exports, with Uttar Pradesh being the highest contributor. He questioned the moral stance of the state’s leadership in light of this data.
Speaking to reporters in Davangere, Lad stated, “India is one of the top exporters of beef globally, and Uttar Pradesh is at the forefront of this. The Chief Minister of that state, who often invokes ‘Gau Mata’, should respond to this contradiction.”
Lad also alleged that financial irregularities are taking place in the name of taxation and digital payments. Citing a recent example, he said, “The hotel where I went to eat benne dosa has received a notice from the Centre. On one hand, they are targeting small businesses, while on the other, they have written off loans worth thousands of crores for big businessmen. But there is no loan waiver for the poor.”
Taking a dig at the Centre’s sports initiatives, Lad criticized the disproportionate spending on schemes like Khelo India. “There are a dozen programs with names like Khelo India and Bhago India. Gujarat alone spent ₹600 crore on Khelo India but did not win a single medal. Why wasn’t that money given to states like Haryana and Punjab, which consistently win medals?” he asked.