Chandigarh,Oct 16 (NDTV): The ruling BJP today distanced itself from Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar's comment that Muslims in the country must give up beef and said: "Eating is a personal choice of people."

"The views expressed by Khattar are not that of the party. I will talk to him and will advise him," said union Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said.

"This is not the BJP's position.... It is not correct to link eating habits to religion. People have to keep in mind the sentiments of others and eating is a personal choice of people," he asserted.

The Indian Express today quoted Mr Khattar as saying: "Muslim rahein, magar is desh mein beef khaana chhodna hi hoga unko. Yahan ki manyata hai gau (Muslims can stay, but in this country they will have to give up eating beef. The cow is an article of faith here)."

The comments come at a time the BJP has been lacerated with criticism over its leaders making incendiary remarks after the mob killing of a Muslim man in Dadri over beef rumours.

Mr Khattar clarified today: "My statement has been twisted. Even if there is a word which hurts someone's sentiments I am ready to regret."

Accused by rival parties of saying that Muslims should go to Pakistan, the Chief Minister said: "I didn't suggest anyone should go to Pakistan. It has been our tradition for ages that we have lived together respecting other faith."

In the interview, Mr Khattar is also quoted as saying that the Dadri killing was the "result of a misunderstanding" in which both sides had been wrong. He said the mob acted like "a man would after seeing his mother being killed or his sister getting molested."

Facing wide condemnation, the Chief Minister today amended that "no one is allowed to take law into their hands even if someone's sentiments are hurt."

Mr Khattar, 61, who took charge of the BJP's first government in Haryana a year ago, is a veteran member of the party's ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.