Ready to ban beef in Assam if Congress writes to me: Himanta

Sun Dec 01 06:23:29 UTC 2024: ## Assam CM Offers Beef Ban in Response to Congress Politician’s Comments

**GUWAHATI, ASSAM –** Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has stated his willingness to ban beef in the state if the state Congress president, Bupen Kumar Borah, requests it in writing. This announcement comes in the wake of comments made by Congress MP Rakibul Hussain, who reportedly deemed the use of beef in election campaigning as wrong.

Sarma’s offer follows the BJP’s recent victory in the Samaguri by-election, a constituency previously held by the Congress for 25 years. He highlighted the Congress’s significant loss, attributing it to more than just the BJP’s win. The CM directly challenged the Congress, questioning whether their past electoral successes in Samaguri were due to offering beef to voters.

Sarma emphasized his willingness to enact a complete beef ban if Congress officially supports the measure, citing Hussain’s statement against the practice as a first step towards a broader consensus. He plans to formally request Borah’s position on the matter. Currently, beef consumption is not illegal throughout Assam, although the 2021 Assam Cattle Preservation Act restricts cattle slaughter and beef sales in areas with significant Hindu, Jain, or Sikh populations. The CM concluded that a complete ban would resolve various issues and benefit all religious communities.