Assam CM Himanta ready to ban beef if Congress makes formal request

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has expressed his willingness to impose a state-wide ban on beef if the Congress party formally requests such a measure in writing. This statement came in response to allegations by Congress MP Rakibul Hussain, who accused the BJP of distributing beef to voters in the Samaguri constituency during the recent by-election.

Samaguri, which had been a Congress stronghold for 25 years, witnessed a significant electoral shift in the recent by-election. BJP candidate Diplu Ranjan Sarmah defeated Congress’s Tanzil Hussain, son of Rakibul Hussain, by a margin of 24,501 votes. Rakibul Hussain, a five-time MLA from Samaguri and now a Member of Parliament, alleged that the BJP used beef distribution as a tactic to influence voters, particularly in the Muslim-majority areas of the constituency.

In his response, Chief Minister Sarma questioned the Congress's stance on the issue of beef. Sarma asked if Congress had used similar strategies to secure votes during its tenure in Samaguri, stating, “I want to know if Congress was winning Samaguri by offering beef to voters.” He further pointed out that if Congress believes beef consumption is wrong, the party should have implemented a ban during its time in power.

Sarma then outlined his position on the matter, stating that he would be willing to impose a complete ban on beef in Assam if Congress formally requests it. He added that he would write to the state Congress president, Bhupen Kumar Borah, to inquire whether the Congress party supports a beef ban. “I will write to Bhupen Borah and ask if he advocates a ban. If they agree, I will introduce a total ban in the next assembly,” Sarma said.

The Assam Cattle Preservation Act of 2021 currently governs the slaughter and sale of cattle in the state. The law prohibits the slaughter of cattle and the sale of beef in areas where Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs are in the majority, as well as within a five-kilometer radius of temples and Vaishnavite monasteries (sattras). However, the law does not make the consumption of beef illegal in areas outside these restrictions, and beef consumption remains legal in certain areas where it is not prohibited.

Sarma’s comments have added fuel to an ongoing debate over beef consumption in the state, which has been a politically sensitive issue for years. A beef ban, if implemented, would affect various communities in Assam, including Hindus, Muslims, and Christians, all of whom have differing views on the consumption of beef. While Hindus and some other religious groups avoid beef, it is a dietary staple for certain ethnic and religious communities in the state, including Muslims and Christians.