Meghalaya BJP leader and MLA Sanbor Shullai has strongly criticized the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led Assam government’s recent decision to ban the consumption of beef in hotels and public places, calling it a violation of personal choice and constitutional rights.
Shullai condemned the move, asserting that the Constitution of India does not impose any restrictions on the consumption of beef. “When you travel to different countries, people eat snakes, rats, and even insects. It is their personal choice. Why should anyone restrict people from consuming beef?” he remarked.
Expressing his firm opposition, Shullai stated that he would soon bring the matter to the attention of the BJP central leadership. He emphasized that in Meghalaya, people are free to eat what they like.
“I used to eat dog meat when I was young, and recently, one of my friends sent me some, which I enjoyed with my wife. I will never allow such a diktat to be enforced in Meghalaya as long as I am alive,” he declared.
Shullai also highlighted that his approach as a BJP leader differs from that of his counterparts in Assam. He revealed that he has drafted a letter condemning the Assam government’s move, which will be sent to the central BJP leadership and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
“I feel deeply disappointed by this decision. Such measures should not be taken. You can restrict a criminal, but you cannot restrict people from eating what they choose,” he said.
On December 4, the Assam government, under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, announced a statewide ban on serving and consuming beef in restaurants, hotels, and public places. The decision, taken during a state cabinet meeting, seeks to amend the Assam Cattle Preservation Act of 2021 by adding new provisions.
The Act already bans cattle slaughter and the sale of beef in areas with a Hindu, Jain, or Sikh majority and within a 5 km radius of temples or satras (Vaishnavite monasteries).
The beef ban in Assam comes months after a high-profile controversy in Meghalaya. A right-wing organization had planned a “Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra” in Shillong on October 2, aimed at declaring the cow as the “Mother of the Nation” and advocating for a beef ban in the Christian-majority state.
However, the Meghalaya government denied permission for a chartered flight carrying the organization’s head, Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwarananda Saraswati Maharaj, and his team to land at the Shillong Airport in Umroi.
Despite the denial, the Shankaracharya claimed to have symbolically hoisted the “Gau Dhwaj” (Cow Flag) at a height of 21,000 feet as his flight passed over Meghalaya, declaring his mission for cow protection fulfilled.
Shullai’s strong stance underscores the complex interplay between cultural practices, personal freedoms, and political ideologies in the region, further fueling debates around food choices and religious sensitivities.
