Amid escalating politics in Assam hours before the vote, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma clarified his stance on beef consumption, stating that there is no problem with eating beef, but wants it restricted to private places.
These statements represent a departure from his previous statements, in which he warned beef eaters of legal action and pledged: “He will not have mercy on those who eat beef.”
“Muslims eat beef. There is no ban on it… There is a large community of Muslims in Assam who eat beef. We are not asking them not to eat it. We are only asking them to eat it inside their homes. Do not eat in any public place,” Biswa told reporters.
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He emphasized that consumption of beef should take place inside homes and not in public places or within a 5 km radius of any temple.
The opposition attacks the Bharatiya Janata Party
The Prime Minister’s statement led to a political controversy with several parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party and the Samajwadi Party, attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav criticized the BJP and urged people to “remove the BJP and protect the cows”.
“Bhajpa hatao, Gaumata bachao,” the Socialist Party leader wrote in a post on X, sharing a poster containing Pessoa’s remarks.
Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP has slammed the BJP, saying the “mother cow” is just an electoral gimmick and a tool for riots and unrest.
Also Read: “Anti-national, eats beef”: Assam President Himanta Biswa Sarma slams mother of his election rival
She added that while in northern India, “the BJP and its supporters are carrying out murders in the name of ‘protecting cows,’ their leaders are saying: eat beef.”
Himanta Sarma’s previous statement and what the Assam law says
While campaigning for the BJP in Jorhat, the Assam chief minister said this month that he “will not have mercy on those who eat beef.”
This statement was in line with the party’s position and Sarma’s previous statements.
“There is a cattle ban law in Assam. There is a 3-year jail sentence for eating beef in public… I will not spare those who eat beef. As per the law, I will file an FIR against them at the police station,” he told ANI during the campaign.
Beef consumption is one of the major flashpoints in state politics, with Himanta Sarma intensifying his attacks on the opposition.
The Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021 does not prohibit the slaughter of cows; Its consumption in public places, including restaurants and events, is prohibited. However, beef can still be purchased in stores and eaten at home or in private establishments in the country.
Recently, the Prime Minister threatened to take action against Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) candidate’s mother, Kunki Chowdhury, for allegedly eating beef and being “anti-national and anti-Sanatani”.
Sarma on Thursday alleged that the candidate’s mother, Sujata Gurung Chowdhury, eats beef, supports anti-natives and opposes Sanatani traditions, citing her social media posts.
The Justice and Development Party, allied with the Congress Party, denied the allegations as false and politically motivated.
Assembly elections in Assam are scheduled to be held on April 9, with results to be announced on May 4.
