LUCKNOW: Throwing a challenge to writers who are returning their awards, VHP national spokesman Surendra Jain on Sunday asked if they would go to Saudi Arabia and ask for pork there.

“If they do so and return alive, I myself would welcome them, else they should stop being hypocrites,” said Jain, who is in the city for a two-day meet of Vishwa Hindu Parishad .

In a first direct statement by a senior VHP leader after Dadri lynching , Jain said VHP and Sangh Pariwar are aware that 2/3rd of Indian population is non-vegetarian and do not intend to change eating habits of people as being claimed. “What we want is a complete ban on eating of beef , as mother cow is the centre of faith for Hindus and it should not be hurt,” he said and added that Hindus have always respected the religious sentiments of other communities.

Terming SP minister Azam Khan’s letter to United Nations as an act of stupidity, Jain asked chief minister Akhilesh Yadav to sack such ministers. He demanded that Azam Khan should be booked for treason and added that only then Hindus would have faith in the SP government.

Accusing the SP government of appeasement, Jain asked why members of one community got Rs 45 lakh and jobs in compensation while kin of slain cop Manoj Misra are awaiting help from the government.

Alleging that there are reports of cow-slaughter from various parts of this state, Jain said it looks as if a direct challenge is being thrown before Hindus. UP is fast becoming “danga (riot) pradesh”, he added.