New Delhi, (IANS) : The CPI-M on Friday condemned a move by the Haryana government to collect samples of Biriyani in Mewat area ahead of Bakri-Id festival to know if they contain beef.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist said it had warned at the time of enactment of the Cow Protection and Conservation Act that it could be used to terrorize a religious minority.

“It is important to note that the minority population in Haryana is extremely small and is concentrated in the Mewat area,” a CPI-M statement said.

“It is amply clear that RSS/BJP actually has no concern for the protection of the cow and its progeny,” it said.

“In Goa, the party defends the right of the people to consume beef. In the northeast, it is in favour of beef consumption.

“But in Haryana, clearly, this is being used to terrorize and sharpen communal polarization with clear political and electoral considerations,” the CPI-M said, and urged the Haryana government to stop “this obnoxious campaign”.