Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s announcement of a complete public beef ban has reignited debates on the BJP’s policies. While Assam tightens restrictions under the Cattle Preservation Act, other BJP-ruled Northeastern states show no signs of similar enforcement, spotlighting stark policy contradictions within the region.
By PC Bureau
This is a stark example of hypocrisy. In BJP-ruled Assam, beef will no longer be served in restaurants or public gatherings starting today, but cross over to other Northeastern states—many governed by the BJP or its allies—and beef can still be enjoyed without restrictions.
On Wednesday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced a complete ban on public consumption of beef, including in restaurants and community events. The decision, made during a Cabinet meeting, was reportedly prompted by recent remarks from Congress leaders accusing the BJP of courting voters with beef in Samaguri, a Muslim-majority constituency that the BJP recently won in a bypoll.
Under the new directive, beef cannot be served in hotels, restaurants, or community functions, regardless of whether the occasion is religious or secular. The state plans to amend the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021 to incorporate these new provisions. Currently, the law prohibits the sale and consumption of beef in areas predominantly inhabited by Hindu, Jain, Sikh, and other non-beef-eating communities, or within a 5-kilometer radius of temples and Vaishnavite monasteries (sattras).
“We found our existing beef laws strong but lacking in provisions regarding its consumption at community festivals or public eateries,” Sarma said during a press briefing. “We will amend the act to address this and strengthen its enforcement. Since Congress leaders like Rakibul Hussain and Bhupen Borah raised concerns about beef consumption, we hope they will support these measures.”
The Assam Cattle Preservation Act already imposes strict restrictions on cow slaughter, allowing it only for certain categories of cattle and with a “fit for slaughter” certificate. However, buffaloes were excluded from the law’s purview before its passage.
The announcement also comes in the wake of accusations by Congress that the BJP compromised its Hindutva stance to attract Muslim voters in Samaguri. Congress leader Rakibul Hussain had alleged that the BJP had “betrayed Assamese ethnic communities” by offering beef and questioned Sarma’s commitment to Hindutva. Rather than refuting these claims, Sarma turned the allegations against the Congress, suggesting that his government was willing to ban beef if the Congress formally demanded it.
The Congress now finds itself in a difficult spot, with internal discomfort over how this issue could be politically weaponized by the BJP. A senior Congress leader acknowledged that the party’s stance has left it vulnerable to BJP’s maneuvering.
While beef consumption has been curbed in Assam, the irony lies in its availability in other BJP-ruled Northeastern states, exposing the inconsistencies in the party’s approach to cultural and dietary practices.
