Assam Bans Consumption Of Beef In Hotels, Restaurants, Public Places

New Delhi: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced a statewide ban on the consumption of beef in public spaces, including hotels, restaurants, and community events. Speaking in New Delhi, Sarma stated, “From today, beef will not be served in any restaurant or hotel, nor at any public function or public place. Earlier, we restricted beef consumption near temples, but now the ban has been extended across the state for all public areas.”

The decision marks a significant expansion of the state’s earlier stance, reflecting the government’s commitment to regulating beef consumption in Assam. Sarma emphasised that the measure aligns with the state’s broader objective of fostering communal harmony and addressing cultural sensitivities.

In a separate response to allegations from the opposition Congress party, Sarma criticised claims that the BJP distributed beef to win the bypoll in Samaguri, a Muslim-majority constituency previously held by Congress for 25 years. “Samaguri’s loss is Congress’s defeat, not just BJP’s win,” Sarma said, highlighting BJP’s Diplu Ranjan Sarmah’s victory over Congress candidate Tanzil Hussain by 24,501 votes.

Addressing Congress MP Rakibul Hussain’s reported remarks on the use of beef in electoral campaigns, Sarma questioned whether beef had historically influenced election outcomes in Samaguri. He called the allegation both surprising and contradictory, underscoring the BJP’s principled stance on the matter.