Meghalaya minister Sanbor Shullai
SHILLONG: A senior BJP leader and MLA from Meghalaya, Sanbor Shullai, has strongly opposed the Assam government's decision to ban beef consumption in public places, including hotels.
The move, announced by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, has stirred up debate, with Shullai underlining that people have a constitutional right to choose their food habits.
Shullai expressed his discontent over the decision as it was a breach of personal rights provided under the Indian Constitution. He criticized the logic of curbing eating choices, and he went on to assert that different people in other cultures consume varied forms of food, including snakes, rats, and insects. "Why should you restrict people from consuming beef?" he asked, stressing the fact that it's a subjective choice regarding the diet being followed.
Shullai further cleared out that such restrictions never saw the light of day in Meghalaya due to its diverse cultural and religious activities. "People of Meghalaya are at ease to eat whatever they may require," he declared continuing against the diktat.
In a candid remark, Shullai shared his personal experiences to underscore his belief in food freedom. "I used to eat dog when I was young, and recently, one of my friends sent me dog meat, which I enjoyed with my wife," he said. He vowed to resist any similar bans in Meghalaya, promising to uphold the state's cultural autonomy.
Taking his opposition further, Shullai revealed that he has drafted a letter condemning the Assam government's decision. He plans to send this letter to the BJP's central leadership and Chief Minister Sarma, expressing his disapproval. "I feel bad with this move. Such things should not be done. You can restrict a criminal, but you cannot restrict people from eating any food," he said, reflecting his concern about the implications of such policies on personal liberties. The Assam cabinet accepted the amendments to the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021 on December 4 to ensure beef ban consumption in all hotels and restaurants in public areas. The law prohibits the slaughter of cattle and sales of beef in inhabited localities dominated by the Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs, as well as 5 kilometers within a distance from the place of temple or satras, the Vaishnavite monastery.
The controversy surrounding beef consumption is not a new issue in the region.
Earlier, tensions were seen in Meghalaya when a right-wing organization tried to stage a "Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra" in Shillong on October 2, seeking a ban on beef.
The Meghalaya government had refused permission for the leader of the organization, Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwarananda Saraswati Maharaj and his team to land at Shillong Airport.
Despite this, the Shankaracharya claimed to have hoisted a cow protection flag symbolically from his aerial over Meghalaya. Statements made by Shullai bring out the stark difference between Assam and Meghalaya in terms of food habits.
The Assam government is gradually pushing to adopt stricter rules on beef while Meghalaya firmly upholds its identity about food. He has ignited discussions over the balancing of governance, cultural diversity, and individual freedom in India's northeastern states in voicing his opposition.
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