Samajwadi Party leader and Uttar Pradesh Cabinet minister Azam Khan on Sunday asked the BJP-led Central government to impose a ban on the export of beef.

Mathura: Samajwadi Party leader and Uttar Pradesh Cabinet minister Azam Khan on Sunday asked the BJP-led Central government to impose a ban on the export of beef, saying it will help stop slaughtering of cows.

"Slaughtering of the cow can only stop if the Union government imposes a ban on export of beef," Khan said after inaugurating a Gaushala in Goverdhan town opened by Goverdhan Peethadheeshwar Shankaracharya Swami Adhokshajanand.

He also demanded the government to impose a ban on beef from the menus of five-star hotels.

Asserting that religion never promotes hatred, he said, "it can not be termed religion if it encourages a clash between human beings".

To a query, he termed former UP chief minister Mayawati as "a greatest enemy of democracy", saying the situation of law and order in Uttar Pradesh was poor during her regime.

PTI