CHANDIGARH: Under fire for policing biryani, the Haryana government appears to be distancing itself from samples drawn by the Mewat police to check beef consumption.
While all seven biryani samples have tested positive for beef at the laboratory of a state university, questions are being asked in the government about the district police and animal husbandry department officials exceeding their jurisdiction by drawing samples of biryani - a cooked food item - and getting them analysed.
The samples, especially cooked food, can be drawn by food safety officer and medical officers authorised by the local chief medical officer or food and drugs administration (FDA) department.
Besides, the legal validity of analysis or test done by laboratory other than those designated for the purpose is also under doubt.
FDA public anaylst Balbir Singh told Hindustan Times that only FSO, senior medical officer (SMO) or doctors in-charge of hospitals, primary health centres and community health centres have been notified to collect food samples Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
He said the government laboratories at Karnal and Chandigarh have testing facility for beef and their reports are valid. The biryani samples collected from Firozepur Jhirka in Mewat were sent at Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (LUVAS), Hisar. KHATTAR CONVEYS ‘DISPLEASURE’
Chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar is also learnt to be upset with the manner in which samples were drawn.
“He has made known his displeasure to Gau Seva Ayog and officials of animal husbandry and police departments. Collection of food samples is the responsibility of health staff,” a highly-placed officer said, requesting anonymity.
The district officials have also started passing the buck. Deputy commissioner Mani Ram Sharma said the campaign for collection of samples was run by Gau Seva Aayog chairman Bhani Ram Mangla.
“You should check with the chairman. We were not in the loop,” he said.
While the police said the samples were drawn by a veterinary doctor, director general, animal husbandry and dairying, Dr GS Jakhar said the police ran the campaign and the doctor was called only for packing and sealing the samples for analysis. Mangla, on being contacted, blamed the media for blowing the whole thing out of proportion. “It’s a simple issue, not a big one. We got some complaints. The police and the veterinary doctor drew the samples. You should ask the police about the test results,” he said.
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