Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – The Assam government has imposed a complete ban on serving and consuming beef in restaurants, hotels, public functions, and other community spaces.
Announcing the decision on Wednesday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the decision was finalised at a state Cabinet meeting that approved amendments to the existing laws on beef consumption.
“Today the Assam Cabinet has decided to ban beef in hotels, restaurants and public places in the state,” Sarma wrote on X.
“In Assam, we have decided that beef will not be served in any restaurant or hotel, nor will it be allowed in any public function or public place. Earlier, our decision was to stop eating beef near temples, but now we have expanded it to the entire state. You will not be able to eat it in any community or public space, hotel, or restaurant,” Sarma said.
The chief minister said earlier his government had brought a law barring cow slaughter in the state and they succeeded in this regard. When it comes to beef consumption, it was banned near a temple around five kilometres. It has now been expanded in the whole state.
Assam minister Pijush Hazarika, retweeted the CM’s announcement and challenged the opposition Congress, saying, “I challenge Assam Congress to welcome the beef ban or go and settle in Pakistan.”
The decision comes after CM Sarma earlier hinted at implementing such a ban. Speaking to the media last Sunday, he had 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 secure votes in the recent by-polls in the Muslim-majority Samaguri constituency.
