In a significant move, the northeastern Indian state of Assam has banned beef consumption in public spaces, encompassing restaurants and various events.
On Wednesday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced an expansion to a previous regulation that limited the sale of beef in proximity to specific religious sites, including temples.
Despite restrictions, the meat remains available in stores and can be consumed in private residences or establishments throughout the state.
The issue of beef consumption in India is highly sensitive, given that cows hold a revered status among Hindus, who make up 80% of the nation’s population.
In recent years, multiple states governed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including Assam, have implemented stringent measures against cow slaughter.
Approximately two-thirds of India’s 28 states, a significant number under BJP governance, have implemented partial or complete bans on cattle slaughter and beef consumption. However, it is essential to note that the consumption of buffalo meat remains legal in certain regions.
Across various regions in India, cow vigilante groups have faced allegations of implementing the ban through violent means, resulting in fatal assaults on Muslim meat sellers and cattle traders, as well as on Dalits, who rely on beef as an affordable and essential source of protein.
In 2021, Assam implemented a ban on the sale and purchase of beef in regions predominantly inhabited by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs, communities that traditionally abstain from consuming beef. The legislation also banned the sale of beef in proximity to temples.
Sarma announced that the newly implemented ban on public consumption will be incorporated into the existing legislation.
The announcement follows allegations made by India’s primary opposition party, Congress, which asserted that Sarma had utilised beef to secure victory in a by-election in Samaguri, a constituency with a majority Muslim population. The BJP has refuted these claims.
Congress legislator Rakibul Hussain accused the chief minister of “betraying” his party’s Hindu nationalist values by “offering beef” to voters.
The remarks ignited a fierce political battle, as Sarma declared on Wednesday his readiness to implement a total ban on beef in the state, should that be the desire of the Congress party.
Amid the ongoing debate, various political parties have opposed the ban, arguing that it infringes upon individuals’ rights to choose their food options.
“If banning beef is not feasible in Goa or other northeastern states, what justifies it in Assam?” Hafiz Rafiqul Islam, a representative of the All India United Democratic Front, made a statement.
In certain states, such as Goa and Arunachal Pradesh, the sale and consumption of beef remains legal, as are areas governed by the BJP.