The Assam government on Wednesday has decided to impose a ban on serving and consumption of beef in restaurants, hotels and public places. The announcement came from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma after a meeting of the state cabinet.
According to Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, the existing law on beef consumption is strong but there has been no prohibition on the consumption of beef at restaurants, hotels, and religious or social gatherings so far.
The Assam government on Wednesday has decided to impose a ban on serving and consumption of beef in restaurants, hotels and public places. The announcement came from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma after a meeting of the state cabinet.
"We have decided to ban serving and consumption of beef in restaurants, hotel and public places," CM Sarma said during a press conference.
According to the chief minister, the existing law on beef consumption is strong but there has been no prohibition on the consumption of beef at restaurants, hotels, and religious or social gatherings so far.
"Now, we have decided to make the law stronger to put a complete ban on consumption of beef in public places too in Assam", he said.
The decision came within days since Sarma hinted at implementing such a ban. On Sunday, he said he was open to prohibiting beef consumption in Assam if the Congress submitted a written request.
This statement followed allegations by Congress leaders, including Rakibul Hussain, who accused the BJP of distributing beef to secure votes in the recent bypolls in the Muslim-majority Samaguri constituency.
Besides the chief minister, Assam minister Pijush Hazarika challenged the opposition Congress in an X post that reads, “I challenge Assam Congress to welcome the beef ban or go and settle in Pakistan.”
Earlier, consumption of beef was not considered illegal in the northeastern state except the fact that the Assam Cattle Preservation Act of 2021 prohobits cattle slaughter and sale of beef in areas where Hindus, Jains and Sikhs are in majority and within a five-km radius of a temple or satra (Vaishnavite monastery).
CM Sarma said a few other important decisions were taken at the meeting of the state cabinet, which he attended virtually from Delhi. Decisions were also taken in terms of broadening the road connecting Guwahati's Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi airport to the city from four lanes to six lanes.
Besides, the chief minister also announced that the state's cabinet expansion will take place on December 7 when a few new ministers will take oath.
Briefing about his series of meetings he had in the national capital, Sarma said during his interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi he had submitted proposals for approval of various projects worth Rs 1 lakh crore.
These projects include the enhancement of capacity of Bongaigaon Refinery and Petrochemical Limited to five million tonnes, the expansion of the Namrup fertilizer plant at a cost of Rs 10,000 crore and the Guwahati ring road projects.