Bharatiya Janata Party leader from Karnataka, SN Channabasappa, was arrested on Tuesday after threatening to behead Chief Minister K Siddaramaiah if he ate beef. Superintendent of Police Ravi Channannavar said that Channabasappa has been booked under IPC Sections 153 (provocation with intent to cause riot), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 506 (criminal intimidation).

At a protest organised by the BJP against the chief minister on Monday, Channabasappa said, “Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is behaving like a dictator. Let him eat beef at Gopi Circle in Shivamogga. If he does so, he will be beheaded.” BJP spokesperson M Shankar said that Siddaramaiah was “talking like the owner of a meat shop”.

Siddaramaiah had said on Thursday that it was his right to eat beef and dared anyone to question him about it. Leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) supported Siddaramaiah’s remarks by consuming beef kabab in public at a demonstration outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner on Tuesday, reported The Hindu.