Ban on Beef Consumption in Public Areas Enforced in Assam
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New Delhi, Dec 4 (NationPress) The government of Assam has enacted a prohibition on the consumption of beef in public areas, which includes hotels and restaurants, as announced by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday.
This decision was made during a cabinet meeting that was chaired by the Chief Minister in the national capital.
Sarma informed the media, “We had previously implemented restrictions on beef consumption within a five-kilometre radius of temples and other places of worship. However, we have now opted to broaden this limitation, resulting in a complete ban on beef consumption in public areas across Assam starting today.”
“This restriction extends to the serving of beef in hotels, restaurants, and during community festivals within the state. Violators will face penalties as stipulated by the law,” he added.
The Chief Minister also criticized the Congress party, stating, “Several Congress leaders, including the state president, have discussed the issue of banning beef consumption in the state. We already had stringent laws in place regarding this; however, today’s cabinet meeting resulted in a comprehensive ban on beef consumption in public areas statewide.”
Previously, Sarma had indicated that if state Congress President Bhupen Kumar Borah requested a ban, he would support the initiative to prohibit beef in Assam.
Sarma expressed satisfaction that the opposition party raised concerns about the BJP allegedly distributing beef to secure votes in the Muslim-majority Samaguri, a constituency that had been under Congress rule for five consecutive terms.
He remarked, “Samaguri spent 25 years under Congress control, and the most significant embarrassment in Congress' history is losing such a constituency by 27,000 votes. This loss reflects more on Congress than it does on the BJP.”
Following the defeat of a Congress candidate in Samaguri, Dhubri MP Rakibul Hussain accused the ruling party of winning the constituency by distributing beef to the populace.
Hussain has been representing Samaguri in the Assembly since 2001 and vacated this seat after winning in the Lok Sabha elections this year. The Congress party subsequently nominated his son Tanzil Hussain for Samaguri in the recent by-election.
Sarma queried, “I am curious if Congress managed to win Samaguri by distributing beef to voters. He (Rakibul Hussain) is well familiar with Samaguri. Does this imply that beef can be used as a means to secure votes in Samaguri?”
He continued, “Since Rakibul Hussain has stated that beef should be banned, I would like to inform him that he simply needs to write to me regarding the prohibition of beef in Assam.”
