Writer Mitra Phukan slams Assam CM for crusade against 'beef eating'

GUWAHATI: Noted Assamese writer Mitra Phukan on Wednesday slammed Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for his resolve to restrict cow slaughter and beef consumption in the state.

Taking a dig at the Chief Minister, Phukan in a social media post said that “Assam did not elect you so that you restrict beef-eating.”

She went on to say that Sarma should stop behaving like other Chief Ministers from the BJP party.

“We are not cow worshippers. Let people eat what they always have, and please get with much more important issues of governance. In the middle of the pandemic. Regulating food preferences is irrelevant and cruel”, Phukan added in her post.

This comes after Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday pronounced that "cow is our mother."

We will not allow cows to be smuggled in from West Bengal. In those places where cows are worshipped, beef must not be consumed. It does not mean that everybody has to give up and change habits all of a sudden," he said on the floor of the Assam legislative Assembly.

"There is no need for a Madina hotel (indicating food joints that serves beef) in Fancy Bazar or in Gandhibasti or Santipur (locations in Guwahati) as there is sensitivity. However, we can appeal to people to give up where there is no sensitivity."

He said, "Under the Directive principles of state policy under the Constitution, cow slaughter must be stopped. No illegal cartel of cow trade will be allowed."

Recently, Governer of Assam Jagdish Mukhi made an announcement in the Assembly that the state government is planning to introduce a cow protection bill in the next assembly session.

The announcement has resulted in mixed reactions in the state.