If the ban on beef is imposed under the amended Act, Assam will join Himachal Pradesh, which has already done so after it passed HP Prohibition of Cow Slaughter Act, 1979.
According to the experts in the know of the cattle trade, the ban will have largescale repercussions in Assam and Northeast as the cattle smuggling is done through the porous borders of Assam. Most of the cattle are smuggled from UP and Bihar into Assam and Northeast and it is a booming business for many, they charged.
Spelling out his intention behind the proposed move, Sarma said in his comments and tweets on social media that their mission is to strengthen protection of cattle in the state and they have brought an amendment to the Cattle Preservation Act 2021. The new additions will ease transportation of cattle for agriculture purposes and ensures stringent punishment for cattle smugglers, he said.
Chief Minister Sarma’s statement and heated exchange that followed over the recent burning of cattle-carrying vehicle in Sitarampur in Assam Vidhan Sabha today to this effect has gone viral on social media, with the netizens welcoming the move to ban the beef and linking it with development of animal husbandry and dairy development in the state.
The debate took place in Assam Assembly earlier in the day.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who was in Assam today, addressed the members of the Assam Vidhan Sabha and urged them to have a quality debate and discussion that benefit people and promote democratic values and development of the state. They may have different views, but they should converge on the common and greatest good of people, he said.
Himanta Biswa Sarma told the Vidhan Sabha citing the Assam Cattle Preservation (Amendment Bill), 2021, which was passed on November 22 2021 to regulate slaughter, consumption and transportation of cattle.
Pointing out an incident in Sitarampur where an alleged vehicle smuggling cattle was burnt, Sarma said the time has come to go for alternatives, even as the beef might be a big business. “BJP has mentioned in election manifesto and people elected them to power on this. It is their duty to implement the law”, he said.
He said the objective of amendment is to strengthen the Act and maintain harmonious balance between Act’s objective and importance of cattle wealth in agrarian life. The Act will remove some restrictions to facilitate inter-district transportation of cattle and but not in districts which share international border.
The Act deletes the provision of exemption to certain places of worship and occasions for cattle slaughter as Buffalo doesn’t come under the purview of the Act.
The government would register agencies and farms intending to transport cattle for bona fide agriculture or animal husbandry purposes under this Act.
The government would seek court’s order to auction the seized vehicles, boats, conveyance or vessels except cattle. The government will attach or seize the documents of movable and immovable property of the accused under the Act.
But Sarma warned stating that it has become a perception that they can run by killing cows and perception has to be changed for violence in any form.
He said the state in collaboration with the National Dairy Development Board is targeting to produce 10 lakh ltr of milk every day in Assam for which Rs 1450 crore has been earmarked.
Sarma said the government cannot allow cruelty against the animals and they have to exercise alternatives. “We are not communal and there is no political vendetta in this and let me assure you no one’s livelihoods will be affected”.
In reaction to Sarma’s statement in Assam Vidhan Sabha the netizens have rallied behind Sarma while there are others who reacted as saying that Chief Minister should read the book, Cownomics by Aarti Aggarwal, who has described the whole thing in a logical manner.
The netizens say that cattle trading is deep-rooted in rural economy of Assam. “The economy of rural households is going down, still a welcome legislation but its implementation will be an issue”.
(Kuldeep Chauhan, Editor, HimbuMail, with inputs from HimbuMail service from Assam)
