BJP bulldozes beef regulation law in Assam

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Assam bulldozed the Cattle Preservation Bill, 2021, which seeks to regulate the slaughter, consumption and transportation of cattle, rejecting the opposition demand to send the bill to select committee of the Legislative Assembly.

The Bill was passed amidst slogans of Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Jai Shri Ram and in the absence of the opposition comprising Congress, Communist Party of India Marxist and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), which staged a walkout when the ruling party refused to send the Bill to the select committee for its consideration. The sole independent legislator Akhil Gogoi stage a walkout when the Bill came up for discussion in the House.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in his reply to the discussion on the Bill, rejected the opposition demand to send it to the select committee.  Sarma said that the legislation does not prevent people from consuming beef, but puts the onus on the consumer or seller of ensuring that religious sentiments of others are protected. In an obvious claim that Hindus maintain communal harmony, Sarma said in the House, “It can’t be that only Hindus are responsible for maintaining communal harmony, Muslims must also reciprocate.”

Clause 8 in the Bill prohibits the sale or purchase of beef or beef products in areas pre-dominantly inhabited by Hindu, Jain, Sikh or any other non-beef eating communities or within a five-kilometre radius of temples, satra or other religious institutions belonging to Hindus.

Thus it would make sale or consumption of beef extremely difficult in the state, though there is no direct ban on it.

Those found guilty under the new legislation are liable to imprisonment of not less than three years or a fine varying from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.