Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday announced a statewide ban on serving and consuming beef in restaurants, hotels and public places.
The decision, NDTV reported, was taken at a cabinet meeting to amend the existing law on beef consumption.
Consumption of beef is not illegal in Assam, but The Assam Cattle Preservation Act of 2021 regulates the transportation and slaughter of all cattle, and sale of beef and beef products in the state.
“We had earlier introduced a bill in Assam to protect cows and we have been successful,” Mr Sarma said, referring to the legislation that was approved by the state assembly in 2021.
“Going further, we have decided that beef will not be served in any hotels or restaurants in the state. It will also not be served during any public function or in any public place,” he added.
The Assam Cattle Preservation Act of 2021 bans cattle slaughter and the sale of beef in areas where Hindus, Jains and Sikhs are in majority, and within a 5km radius of a temple or satra (Vaishnavite monastery).
The opposition All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) hit out at the state government, accusing it of diverting attention from key issues.
“The state government has failed to carry out development works... it has failed to tackle unemployment. There are major issues in the education and health sectors... they are simply diverting the people’s attention through such decisions,” AIUDF legislator Aminul Islam said.
The Assam Cattle Preservation Bill was passed in the Assam assembly through a voice vote in August 2021, amid a walkout from the Opposition, who wanted the legislation to be sent to a select committee for a detailed discussion.
Violations of the provisions of the bill could lead to imprisonment of three to eight years and a fine between R3 lakh ($4,800) and Rs5 lakh.
Mr Sarma’s announcement comes days after he slammed the Congress for alleging that the BJP distributed beef to win elections in the Muslim-dominated area of Samaguri. The chief minister even said he was ready to ban beef in Assam if state Congress chief Bhupen Kumar Borah writes to him, seeking it.
“Amid the sadness of losing Samaguri, (five-time Congress MLLA) Rakibul Hussain said one good thing, that eating beef is wrong. He said it was wrong for Congress-BJP to win elections by offering beef to voters,” Mr Sarma said when asked about the Congress leader’s reported comment.
“I want to know if Congress was winning Samaguri by offering beef to voters. He knows Samaguri very well. Does it mean that Samaguri can be won by offering beef?”
Several states in India have already enacted laws prohibiting the slaughter of cows and the sale and consumption of beef.
Delhi has banned the slaughter of agricultural cattle, including cows, calves, bulls and bullocks, while Gujarat bans even the transport and sale of the meat.
Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkand and Maharashtra all have similar laws. In Jammu and Kashmir, the slaughter of cows and their progeny is punishable with penalties of up to 10 years in jail.
