Guwahati: Kerala BJP vice president Major Ravi on Thursday took potshots at Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s move to ban beef consumption in hotels and public places.
Ravi cautioned against sending wrong signals that could lead to communal tensions.
Making a demarcation between beef and cow, he said, “First of all you need to understand what is beef and what is cow, if you suddenly ban beef, this will give a wrong message to so many people. Beef is not cow.”
He also said that if somebody wants to eat, they should be able to.
He added, “There should be freedom to eat what you want,” the BJP leader said, adding that beef refers to buffaloes and bulls.
He also criticized Himanta Biswa Sarma’s rule as inappropriate and called for individual freedom in food choices.
“We worship cow. I haven’t seen any place where cows are being slaughtered,” Major Ravi remarked.
Citing Kerala’s example, Major Ravi said that people can easily get beef, pig, pork, etc. However, he noted that cows do hold a sentimental value for Hindus.
On Wednesday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma declared limitations on beef service and consumption in restaurants, hotels, and public areas across the state.
He said earlier there was a provision that beef should not be served or consumed within a 5 km radius of temples.
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During the announcement, he stated that the Assam Cattle Preservation Act of 2021 has successfully regulated cattle slaughter.
“But now we have expanded it to the entire state that you will not be able to eat it in any community place, public place, hotel or restaurant,” CM Sarma said.
