GUWAHATI: The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) has taken strong exception to Assam’s move to ban serving and consumption of beef in public saying the government has no right to decide on what to eat.
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AIUDF MLA and party General Secretary Dr. (Hafiz) Rafiqul Islam criticised the BJP-led government, stating that such decisions should not dictate individual choices.
"The cabinet should not be deciding what people eat or wear," Islam said.
The state cabinet on Wednesday, December 4 approved the ban across the state expanding its scope. Earlier, the ban was restricted to a radius of five kilometres of temples.
Islam also pointed out that BJP-led governments in other states like Goa and in the Northeast have not taken such steps. “This shows the party’s inconsistency in the matter,” he said. “We do not pay much heed to this decision," he added.
Meanwhile, the ban has sparked a mixed reactions from the public, as reflected in the comments flooding the Assam Chief Minister's Cabinet post. Some citizens have expressed dissatisfaction, questioning the government's priorities, particularly focusing on the beef ban while neglecting more pressing issues like education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
They argue that personal food choices should be respected, and the government's attention should be directed towards improving the education system—especially the provincialisation of Sanskrit education—and enhancing teachers' working conditions. Others have pointed out the lack of focus on infrastructural development, such as road expansion.
However, there are citizens who are pleased with the cabinet's decision, supporting the ban as a measure in line with their cultural and religious beliefs.
