The Assam government on Wednesday 🌸has decided to impose a ban on se💎rving and consumption of beef in restaurants, hotels and public places. The announcement came from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma after a meeting of the state cabinet.
"We have decided to ban serving𓄧 and consumption of beef in restaurants, hotel and public places𓆉," CM Sarma said during a press conference.
According to the chief minister, the e🌳xisting law on beef consumption is strong but there has been no prohibition on the consumption of beef at restaurants, hotels, and religious orꦦ social gatherings so far.
"Now, we have decided to make the law stronge🍨r to put a complete ban on consumption of beef in public places too in Assam", he said.
The decision came within days si🙈nce Sarma hinted at implementing such a ban. On Sunday, he said he was open to prohibiting beef consumption in Assam if the Congress submitted a written request.
This statement followed allegations by Congress leaders, including Rakibul Hussain, who accused the BJP of distributing beef to secur🀅e votes in the recent bypolls ꧂in the Muslim-majority Samaguri constituency.
Besides the chief minister, Assam minister Pijush𝐆 Hazarika challenged the opposition Congress in an X post that reads, “I challenge Assam Congress to welcome the beef ban or go and settle iꦚn Pakistan.”
Earlier, consumption of beef was not considered illegal in the northeastern state except the fact that the Assam Cattle Preservation Act of 2021 prohobits cattle slaughter and sale of beef in areas where Hindus, Jains and Sikhs are in꧑ majority and within a five-km radius of a temple or satra (Vaishnavite monastery).
Other decisions taken at the meeting
CM Sarma said a few other important decisions were taken at the meeting of the state cabinet, which he att💧ended virtually from Delhi. Decisions were also taken in terms of broadening the road connecting Guwahati's Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi airport to the city from four lanes to six lanes.
Besides, the chief minister also announced that the state's cabinet expansion will take place on December 🉐7 when a few new ministers will take oath.
Briefing about his series of meetings he had in the national capital, Sarma said during his interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi he had submitted proposals for approval of various projects worth Rs 1ಞ lakh𒆙 crore.
These projects include the enhancement of capacity of Bongaigaon Refinerꦺy and Petrochemical Limited to five million tonnes, the expansion of the Namrup fertilizer plant at a cost of Rs 10,000 crore and the Guwahati r꧑ing road projects.
