GUWAHATI: The Assam government has announced a ban on serving and consumption of beef in restaurants, hotels, and public places. This was confirmed by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday, December 4.
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The decision was approved during a state cabinet meeting, which the chief minister chaired virtually from Delhi; the decision marks an amendment to the existing laws on beef consumption.
Speaking at a press conference in the national capital after the cabinet meeting, Sarma said, “We have implemented a ban on serving and consumption of beef in restaurants, hotels, and public places.”
Earlier the ban was enforced within a radius of five kilometres of temples. "Today, we have expanded the ban to cover the entire state," Sarma added. He said cow slaughter was banned three years ago and today's decision was another step forward.
The announcement follows recent remarks by the chief minister, who stated he was open to banning beef entirely if state Congress chief Bhupen Kumar Borah formally requested it.
Responding to the Congress's allegations that the BJP distributed beef to gain votes in the Muslim-majority Samaguri constituency in the recent bye-election, Sarma had highlighted the party's loss in the constituency by a margin of 27,000 votes as a significant setback for the opposition party.
