Amid the raging debate over cow slaughter and consumption of beef, a sadhvi attending a meet of various Hindu outfits in Panaji, Goa has said those who consider eating beef as a status symbol should be hanged.

The remarks made by Sadhvi Saraswati, hailing from Madhya Pradesh, in Panaji on Wednesday evening, triggered a sharp reaction from the Congress, which said her speech would spark communal hatred, and asked the BJP-led government in Goa to lodge an FIR against her.