Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has expressed his willingness to ban beef consumption in the state, provided the Congress leadership formally requests it in writing.
Sarma’s remarks came in response to allegations that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) distributed beef to sway votes in the Muslim-dominated Samaguri constituency during a recent bypoll.
Addressing the media after a BJP meeting on Saturday, Sarma said, “Samaguri was with Congress for 25 years. Congress losing a constituency like Samaguri by 27,000 votes is the biggest shame in its history. It is Congress's defeat more than BJP's win.”
BJP candidate Diplu Ranjan Sarmah had defeated Congress’s Tanzil Hussain, son of MP Rakibul Hussain, by a margin of 24,501 votes in the bypoll.
Reacting to Rakibul Hussain's reported comment that it was “wrong for Congress-BJP to win elections by offering beef to voters,” Sarma questioned
whether such practices were a norm in the constituency. “I want to know if Congress was winning Samaguri by offering beef to voters. He knows Samaguri very well. Does it mean that Samaguri can be won by offering beef?” he asked.
Rakibul Hussain, who represents Dhubri in Parliament, previously served as MLA from Samaguri for five consecutive terms. He secured a record victory margin of over 10.12 lakh votes in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Highlighting the implications of Hussain’s statement, Sarma proposed a broader ban on beef.
“I want to tell Rakibul Hussain that beef should be banned as he himself said it is wrong. He only needs to give me in writing that neither BJP nor Congress should speak about beef. In fact, it should be banned in Assam. If we do that, all problems will be solved,” the Chief Minister remarked.
Sarma further announced his intention to write to Bhupen Kumar Borah, the Assam Congress chief, regarding the issue.
“So, I will write to Bhupen Borah and ask him if he also advocates banning beef in line with Rakibul Hussain, and just inform me. I will ban beef completely in the next assembly. Then BJP, AGP, CPM, nobody will be able to offer, and Hindus, Muslims and Christians all should stop eating beef, and all problems will be solved,” he stated.
The Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021, prohibits cattle slaughter and the sale of beef in areas predominantly inhabited by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs, as well as within a five-kilometre radius of temples or satras (Vaishnavite monasteries). However, the consumption of beef remains legal in the state.
Sarma praised Hussain’s remarks as a significant step in addressing the issue, urging Congress leaders to take further action.
“I am happy that Rakibul Hussain has made this statement because at least one step has been taken. Now, the second step should be taken by Bhupen Borah,” he stressed.
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