Chennai: The Tirupattur district administration called off Ambur Biryani Festival scheduled to be held on May 13 and 14 citing heavy rainfall. However, the decision to call off the festival came after parties in Tamil Nadu opposed the ban on beef biryani during the festival.
The exclusion of beef biryani created a stir since beef is widely consumed in Ambur by SCs, STs and Muslims.
According to a report on The New Indian Express, the district administration said that the festival planned at Ambur Trade Centre has been called off due to the heavy rain forecast.
The IMD also predicted heavy rainfall on May 13 and 14.
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However, the Tamil Nadu SC/ST Commission has sent a notice to Tirupattur Collector seeking an explanation on why the exclusion of beef cannot be considered discrimination.
In a notice, the state SC/ST Commission said, beef biryani had been specifically excluded from the festival. Hence, the panel has chosen to take up the matter since it appears like a 'matter of untouchability in the form of discrimination' against SC/ST and the Muslim population, as per a report on The New Indian Express.
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Meanwhile, political parties including Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi chief Thol Thirumavalavan and a few Muslim parties condemned the exclusion of beef and threatened to stage protests if beef was not included. However, on the other hand, Hindu Munnani party demanded the cancellation of the festival since it was allegedly not in terms with the culture of the country.