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After the ban on transport of cows within Assam including beyond the state’s borders, farmers in the state are facing a very difficult time in disposing off old cows including those who consume beef. The ban on transport of cow also includes ban on slaughter and consumption in most places except few where beef consumers reside. Spearheaded by chief minister Dr.Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam’s BJP-led coalition government passed the Assam Cattle Preservation Bill, 2021 on August 13,2021, after the Opposition walked out in protest against the government’s refusal to forward the legislation to a select committee. The Bill aims to prohibit the transport of cows within the state and any place outside the state. Approved recently by the state Cabinet for introduction in the House, this Bill seeks to control the slaughter of cows and consumption of cow meat. Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, while introducing the Bill in the House on July 12,2021 had said that the legislation seeks to ensure that permission for slaughter wasn’t granted to areas that are predominantly inhabited by Hindu, Jain, Sikh and other non-beef eating communities or places that fall within five-kilometre radius of a temple, satra, and any other institution as maybe prescribed by the authorities. When transportation of cows has been banned it practically closes any small window for slaughter; because no cow means no slaughter. The law in reality was meant to be directed against a particular religious community. Dr Himanta’s explanation that the legislation doesn’t intend to stop anyone from consuming beef is bereft of truth. When supply is stopped where can any beef eater obtained the meat? He went on to suggest that those who eat beef, should respect the religious sentiments of others .However, the hindus in Assam are smart enough to understand that a certain section of society’s feelings about something should not hamper the independence of the other section of society. Many liberal Assamese Hindus say the protection of cow is only a pretext meant to provoke the religious community as beef is eaten not only by Muslims but other communities. Some have said that if Hindus ask for banning cow, bull, bullock and buffalo slaughter since it is supposed to hurt their religious sentiments, then Muslims can also ask for ban of pig slaughter ; Jains and Buddhists can also ask for ban on slaughter of all animals. The list goes on and even if this may sound ridiculous, it all started with the majoritarians who firmly believed they are more equal. India prides itself with being a secular nation but does this reflect on its credentials when the majority are forcing their religious customs down the throat of secularism? Doesn’t the nation have bigger problems to worry about such as corruption, poverty, malnutrition, unemployment etc? Politicians don’t care for the nation but their coronation. They use vote bank politics – appease religious sentiments to win votes. The Assam cow protection bill may have closed the doors to legal and open sale of cows by farmers but it has also opened an opportunity where huge sums of money are paid to smuggle cows. That is why the price of beef which used to be Rs.260 in Dimapur pre-cow protection bill has shot up to Rs.380 post-Assam cow protection bill. That is the contribution of the bill; like liquor prohibition. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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