Kangana Ranaut, actor and BJP election candidate, denies eating beef

An Indian actor running for election as a candidate for the ruling party has been forced to deny eating beef.

Kangana Ranaut, a vocal supporter of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said the claims by her opponents are "shameful" and "baseless rumours".

The issue of beef consumption is highly sensitive in India as cows are considered sacred by Hindus, the country's largest religious group.

Some BJP politicians have pushed for bans on cattle slaughter. read more