Assam issues complete ban on beef consumption in hotels, public places

Guwahati: The Assam government on Wednesday announced a statewide ban on serving and consumption of beef in restaurants, hotels and public gatherings.

It is reported that the decision was taken at the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, according to NDTV.

Sarma reportedly posted on X: ‘To further strengthen the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021, the Assam cabinet today approved banning public consumption of beef in hotels, restaurants, community gatherings etc’.

Although the Assam Cattle Preservation Act of 2021 regulates the transportation, slaughter of all cattle and sale of beef and beef products in the state, the consumption of beef was not made illegal in the state.

Referring to the legislation approved by the assembly in 2021, Sarma said that the government had ‘introduced a bill in Assam to protect cows and we have been successful’.

He added that the government further decided to ban on serving of beef in ‘any hotels or restaurants in the state. It will also not be served during any public function or in any public place’.

The BJP led government in 2021 banned cattle slaughter and sale of beef in places where Hindus, Jains and Sikhs are in majority alongside the ban was imposed on within a five kilometre radius of a temple or satra (Vaishnavite monastery).

‘Earlier, we had decided to place the curbs within a five kilometre radius of a temple but now, we have decided to expand it to other areas,’ the Chief Minister was quoted as saying.

Calling out the ban, the opposition All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) accused the government of diverting attention from the state’s key issues.

AIUDF legislator Aminul Islam reportedly alleged that the government has failed to carry out development works, tackle unemployment, and issues in the education and health sector but it is ‘simply diverting the people's attention through such decisions’.