Indian actress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s election candidate Kangana Ranaut has rebuffed rumours of eating beef or any other red meat.

“I don’t consume beef or any other kind of red meat, it is shameful that completely baseless rumours are being spread about me, I have been advocating and promoting yogic and Ayurvedic way of life for decades now such tactics won’t work to tarnish my image,” she said in a social media post on X.

The issue of beef consumption is sensitive in India as cows are considered sacred by Hindus, the country’s largest religious group. In the recent past, ‘cow vigilantes’ have attacked Muslims for carrying the animal.

Ranaut’s clarification came after an opposition politician claimed she had previously eaten beef. Several social media users shared screengrabs of old posts from Ranaut’s account as alleged proof of the claim.

“My people know me and they know that I am a proud Hindu and nothing can ever mislead them.”

She signed off her post with the phrase “Jai Shri Ram”, a proclamation of the Hindu faith.