New Delhi: Buffalo milk makes children “mind se thoda bhrasht (corrupt)”, and meat and fish cause “violent tendencies” in them, ministers in BJP-led governments in Rajasthan and Bihar have said—remarks that have sparked widespread criticism and discussion.
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha Monday announced the prohibition of open sale of meat and fish near educational institutions, religious places, and crowded public areas to “promote social harmony, maintain hygiene and prevent violent tendencies among children”.
Sinha told media persons in Patna that the Bihar government’s decision was a new initiative taken after deliberations in the Urban Development department and discussions with intellectuals during the Jankalyan Samvad, a dialogue with the public.
“From a health point of view, for social harmony, and to prevent violent tendencies among children, we have decided to stop such open sale of meat and fish near educational institutions, near religious institutions, and in open crowded places,” said Sinha, adding that “it somehow or the other pollutes my sacred sentiments”.
Meanwhile, in another BJP-ruled state, Rajasthan education minister Madan Dilawar courted controversy Sunday with his claim that milk from the indigenous cow makes children active and scholarly, while buffalo milk makes them “depraved”.
The minister made the remarks while addressing a gathering in Khedli village on ‘Go-Samvardhan and Gocharan’, a cow conservation/development and grazing event. He said that the ancient tradition of cow grazing has been revived with the introduction of one ‘village cowherd’ in 14 villages in the area. He went on to describe a purported experiment with newborn calves suggesting that cow calves instinctively find their mothers while buffalo calves struggle, linking this to human intelligence and playfulness.
“Those who drink cow’s milk are learned, while those who drink buffalo milk become mind se bhrasht. If you feed a cow calf with cow’s milk, it becomes active and playful, whereas a buffalo calf becomes lethargic. Similarly, to make our children energetic, give them cow’s milk; to make them mind se bhrasht, give them buffalo milk,” Dilawar remarked.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi took to X Monday to react to Dilawar’s statement. She wrote: “I don’t feel the slightest hesitation in saying that such diamonds can only be from the BJP.”
मुझे कोई संकोच महसूस नहीं होता यह कहने में के ऐसे हीरे तो सिर्फ भाजपायी हो सकते हैं 🤭 https://t.co/ilDuiXUB7a
— Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) February 23, 2026
In response to Bihar Deputy CM’s remark and the state government’s decision on meat sale, she wrote, “The mental & moral bankruptcy of leadership.”
A post on Kerala Congress’s X account also slammed Sinha’s comments. “While he (Sinha) promises a bitter Ayurvedic treatment for the land mafia, which he calls the root cause of all crimes in the state, his masterstroke for childhood development is simply hiding the mutton behind a curtain. The logic is flawless. The real threat to social harmony is apparently a licensed fishmonger, not the hateful ideology of his own party or the illicit liquor and drug mafia that has spread its network to schools. Bravo, double-engine government of Bihar and viksit Bharat!” the post read.
Earlier this week, the Bihar government had announced a ban on open-air and unlicensed meat sales in urban areas in the state legislative council. Sinha said concerns were raised during a visit to Darbhanga, where people reported illegal roadside meat sales within the municipal corporation area, citing obstruction to movement and hygiene issues.
He added that after carrying out a review with district and municipal authorities, directions were issued to ban illegal sales, enforce mandatory licensing and prevent open-market operations on traffic routes. He further said officials were instructed to inspect licences, relocate authorised vendors to designated locations, and take action against unlicensed sellers.
During his speech in the Council, Sinha further said that similar action should be taken across all municipal areas to ensure cleanliness and public health. “People should follow the rules beyond this. We have no problem with the food, but strict measures have been taken to ensure that social interaction and the spirit of purity are not violated, no one’s sentiments are hurt, and the environment is not polluted,” he added.
The deputy chief minister pointed out that the restrictions were being introduced from a health point of view.
He clarified that the decision was not linked to regulating the food habits of people and was not aimed at any particular community or dietary preference. The decision, he said, was taken purely to ensure public order and hygiene standards.
Trinamool Congress spokesperson Tanmoy Ghosh commented, “Deputy CM of Bihar, Vijay Sinha linking food habits to ‘violent tendencies is not public health policy—it’s moral imposition. India’s strength lies in pluralism, diversity, and constitutional freedom—not in policing plates. Regulating diet in the name of culture undermines the very idea of India enshrined in our Constitution.”
Meat and fish eaters can be Nobel laureates, scholars, entrepreneurs and rebels who change history with a pen, not violence.
Deputy CM of Bihar, Vijay Sinha linking food habits to “violent tendencies” is not public health policy — it’s moral imposition.
India’s strength lies in… pic.twitter.com/cvkEGxNgQB
— Tanmoy Ghosh (@Tanmoy_Fetsu) February 23, 2026
(Edited by Sugita Katyal)
Sale of meat in the open is indeed unhygenic ! Do not try to impose sly ideological twists to something which is a matter of public health ! India already suffers from poor state of hygiene standards when it comes to street food. Ban on sale of meat in the open is a welcome step. It does not behove well when authors site behind their airconditioned cabins and order frozen meat while they espouse rest of the people get the meat from stalls near an open sewage drain