Wed Dec 04 15:50:31 UTC 2024: ## Assam Bans Beef in Restaurants and Public Places
**GUWAHATI, INDIA** – Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced a statewide ban on the serving and consumption of beef in restaurants, hotels, and public places. The decision, implemented via an amendment to the existing Assam Cattle Preservation Act of 2021, expands restrictions previously limited to areas with Hindu, Jain, and Sikh majorities and within a five-kilometer radius of religious sites.
While beef consumption itself wasn’t previously illegal in Assam, the 2021 Act already regulated cattle slaughter, transportation, and beef sales. Sarma stated the new ban is a further step in protecting cows, following the success of the 2021 legislation. Violations of the amended act carry a prison sentence of three to eight years and a fine of ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh.
The announcement has drawn immediate criticism from the opposition All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), which accused the government of distracting from pressing issues such as unemployment, education, and healthcare. The AIUDF contends that the government is neglecting crucial development work and using this ban as a diversion tactic. The original 2021 bill was passed amidst opposition walkouts, with the AIUDF advocating for a more thorough review.
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