Ambala, Feb 10 (PTI): Haryana's Health Minister Anil Vij has said that those who cannot live without eating beef should not visit the state.

"There are some countries we don't visit because food and drinking habits there don't suit us. Likewise, those people who can't live without eating beef should not come to Haryana," Mr Vij told reporters on Tuesday. He was asked if the state would issue special permits to foreigners to consume beef in the state.

Mr Vij said Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has clarified that there is no plan for such licences to allow foreigners to have beef in Haryana, where there are stringent cow protection laws in place.

Mr Vij had last year pitched for declaring cow as the national animal and launched an online poll. However, Chief Minister Khattar had reportedly said earlier he was open to relax the beef ban for foreigners.

Haryana's cow protection law, which came into force last year, bans the trafficking and slaughter of cows and consumption of beef.

Violators under the law can face three years to 10 years in jail for killing cow.