Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced a statewide ban on the serving and consumption of beef in restaurants, hotels, and public places. This decision was made after a state cabinet meeting, where the government decided to amend the existing law to include these new provisions.
Beef is not banned in Assam but is controlled by the Assam Cattle Preservation Act of 2021. This law regulates how cattle are transported, slaughtered, and how beef is sold in the state. The government's new decision makes this law stricter by stopping beef from being served in hotels, restaurants, or at public events.
Changes in the Assam cattle preservation act
"We had earlier introduced a bill in Assam to protect cows, and we have been successful," Chief Minister Sarma said, referring to the legislation 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."
The Assam Cattle Preservation Act of 2021 already stops cattle from being slaughtered and beef from being sold in areas where most people are Hindus, Jains, or Sikhs. It also bans the sale of beef within five kilometres of temples or satras (Vaishnavite monasteries). Sarma said, "Earlier, we had decided to place the curbs within a five-kilometre radius of a temple, but now we have decided to expand it to other areas."
Opposition parties criticise the government’s decision
The opposition party, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), criticised the state government for making this decision. Aminul Islam, an AIUDF legislator, said the government was focusing on issues that are not important instead of dealing with the real problems like unemployment, education, and healthcare in the state.
"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," said Aminul Islam.