- Tuesday, March 11, 2025
The existing law in Assam bans cattle slaughter and sale of beef in areas where Hindus, Jains and Sikhs are in a majority and in areas within a five-km radius of a temple
By: India Weekly
THE BJP-led government in Assam has decided to ban serving and consumption of beef in restaurants, hotels and public places.
A decision was taken at a meeting of the state cabinet recently to amend the existing law on beef consumption to incorporate the new provisions.
At a press conference on Wednesday, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “We have decided to ban serving and consumption of beef in restaurants, hotel and public places.”
He said the current law on beef consumption in Assam is strong, but there has been no prohibition in consumption of beef at restaurants, hotels and religious or social gathering so far.
“Now, we have decided to make the law stronger to put a complete ban on consumption of beef in public places,” he said.
However, beef can be purchased from shops and eaten within homes or private establishments in the state.
Consumption of beef is not illegal in Assam, but The Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021, bans cattle slaughter and sale of beef in areas where Hindus, Jains and Sikhs are in a majority and in areas within a five-km radius of a temple.
The opposition parties in Assam have termed the latest step as a “political gimmick” to polarise vote bank.
“It is not justified for the state to dictate the food habits of people. It is an attack on freedom of expression and religious beliefs,” Congress MLA Jakir Hussain Sikdar told PTI.
Food is a habit, depending on climate and geography, he said adding that religions prohibit some things and allow others, and people eat according to their religious beliefs.
“The society we live in is full of diversity and that’s our beauty. While one section worships cows to get salvation, the other sacrifices it to attain salvation,” Sikdar said.
Raijor Dal general secretary Rasel Hussain termed it as a “political gimmick”.
“Basic issues like price rise, ST status to six communities, implementation of Assam Accord, approving the final NRC draft etc are not addressed. But the government brought in beef politics to divert public attention,” he claimed.
He pointed out that the BJP satisfied its vote bank by bringing in curbs on beef consumption in 2021. But this gave rise to widespread black marketing.
“The state lost revenue, but the political class became wealthier with benefits from the cow syndicate. The same thing will happen on a larger scale now,” he added.
Assam Jatiya Parishad president Lurinjyoti Gogoi claimed that the only motive behind this decision was to run a widespread cow syndicate in the state.
“It has already been proved that many of the arrested cow smuggling accused were linked to BJP and its leaders. If we see nationally also, most of the large beef exporters are linked to BJP and they donated huge funds to the saffron party through electoral bonds,” he claimed.
CPI(M) Assam secretary Suprakash Talukdar condemned the government move and said Hindus and Muslims have been living together in Assam for centuries in harmony.
“The BJP wants to create a communal clash with religious polarisation by indulging in food politics. This step directly attacks the Constitutional rights of Muslims and Christians of the state. This is communal and fascist,” he added.
The consumption of beef is a sensitive issue in India, and states ruled by BJP have cracked down heavily on cow slaughter in recent years.
Cow vigilante groups in many BJP-ruled states have been periodically carrying out attacks on Muslim meat sellers and cattle traders and Dalits. (Agencies)
