Congress stages protest in Tura

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

Tura, June 1: The Congress party in Garo hills today expressed anger against Modi government on the notification by the ministry of forest, environment and climate change which proposes to regulate cattle market in the country.  

The party leaders said that it was an attempt to target the minorities especially the Muslims and Christians. They feared that such an attempt, which proposes to ban beef in the country would divide the community and fuel commul tension amongst the majority and the minority communities residing peacefully in Garo hills.

The “beef protest” was led by sports and youth affairs minister Zenith Sangma, parliamentary secretaries Noverfield Marak, Cherak Momin and Winnerson D. Sangma, amongst others. A crowd of over 3000 people attended the rally at Congress Bhavan and chanted anti-Modi slogans saying that at no cost centre will be able to impose ban and restriction on cattle trade in Garo hills.

After the protest meeting, a rally was taken out in the town, which passed through the Deputy Commissioner’s office.

Through a Garo song, the rally send out a loud and clear message to the centre that Garos eat beef and they will not tolerate any policy, which attempts to hurt their sentiments and their welfare.

“The action of the BJP led government will impact the farming community. The restriction on cattle trade will hamper our farmers, who have to depend on cattle to plough their cultivable land. It is our bountiful duty as public representative to send a message to the centre that such restriction is not acceptable to the people of Garo hills”, said Zenith.

He also said that Garos has been into cattle trade for ages and restriction and rules with lot of paper works will hit them badly as most of the cattle traders are from villages, who sell cattle from the village itself as and when required.

“We knew that there would be resentment with such anti-people policy. The people of Meghalaya are very much with the Congress party, even before this action, we are confident that BJP will not get any popularity and we will ensure that they will not get any seat in the upcoming election in Meghalaya”, Zenith added, while commenting on the move that has put a major setback for the BJP, which was expanding its base in the state.

The party leaders when asked on the clarification from the BJP that beef will not be banned in Meghalaya and Northeast, they refused to accept their statement. They said that they are afraid so such statements were made ahead of election.