Amid raised eyebrows over Union Ayush Ministry’s advice to pregnant women to avoid non-vegetarian food, Union Minister Harsh Vardhan on Monday pitched in for vegetarianism but made it clear that this does not mean that the Government has any intention to influence anybody’s food habit.
He said that several cancers were linked to having non-vegetarian food.
“Eating habits are an individual choice and no one can be forced (to change them). Vegetarianism is certainly better than (non-vegetarianism). All over the world, even the western countries, have started preferring vegetarianism,” the Union Environment and Science and Technology Minister, who also happens to be a doctor said.
“My view is based on scientific publication. Many of these cancers have been attributed to have their link to non- vegetarianism like the colon cancer,” he told reporters on sidelines of the launch of an application on yoga by the Ministry of Science and Technology, ahead of the International Yoga Day.
He said that there were different views on red meat, white meat. “We have no intention to influence anybody’s food habits in anyway,” he said, emphasising that one should have a balanced diet of vitamins, carbohydrates, proteins and vitamins.
He was asked to share his views on recommendations of the Ayush Ministry in a booklet advising pregnant women to avoid meat, say no to sex after conception, avoid bad company, have spiritual thoughts and hang some good and beautiful pictures in your room to have a healthy baby.
The recommendations are part of a booklet called Mother and Child Care, compiled by the Government-funded Central Council for Research in Yoga and Naturopathy (CCRYN) under the Ayush Ministry.
Union Minister Shripad Naik, who had released the book recently, said it was published three years ago and is a compilation of yoga practices that are believed to help pregnant women.
While refusing to comment on whether the recent controversial ban on cattle sale and purchase in animal market for slaughter is all set for amendments, Harsh Vardhan reiterated that the issue has been blown out of proportion, it has been misunderstood.
He maintained that there is no intention of the Government to influence any food habits of any person and added that it is neither interested in disturbing business of slaughter in any way.
“We don’t want to influence any food habits of any person, neither interested in disturbing business of slaughtering in any way”, he had said soon after the release of notification.