Guwahati: The BJP government introduced 'The Assam Cattle Preservation Bill, 2021' in the State Assembly on Monday with the intention to regulate the sales and purchase of beef and beef products in areas where people of non-beef-eating communities predominantly live.
The Bill that has been tabled by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma calls for the ban of sales and purchase of beef and allied products within a radius of 5 km of any temple or sattra-Vaishnavite monasteries. Besides, dealing in beef will be curtailed by law in areas where Hindu, Jain, Sikh and other non-beef-eating communities dominate.
If passed, the Bill will replace the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 1950, which the Chief Minister said has lacked sufficient legal provisions to "regulate slaughter, consumption and transportation of cattle."
Though many states have their own types of anti-slaughter and cow protection laws that do not limit a particular area for beef dealing, the Assam Cattle Preservation Act specifically marks areas where a blanket ban on beef dealing will come into force.
Reacting to the Bill, Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia of Congress said there are a lot of problematic areas in the Bill and they are getting it examined by legal experts. "For example, the 5 km rule about beef. A stone can be laid and a 'temple' can be 'built' anywhere by anyone — so it becomes very ambiguous. This may lead to a lot of communal tension," he said.
The Opposition Congress party has questioned the particular provisions included in the Bill which it said has been included to hurt the sentiments of the Muslims and polarise communities further. Opposition leader Debabrata Saikia said that the party is getting the Bill examined by legal experts to determine the problematic provisions included in the Bill.
According to the Bill, legal action can be initiated against any person, citing the vulnerability of the Bill which is silent about several issues, including the new construction of temples. He added that a stone can be laid and a temple can be built in a particular area, bringing it under the regulated area in accordance with the Bill.
"This is not a Bill to protect cows or even respect cows. This has been brought to hurt the sentiments of the Muslims and polarise communities further. We oppose it and will try and bring in amendment resolutions," said Aminul Islam, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) legislator.