Guwahati: The Assam government has banned beef in restaurants, hotels and public places.
The decision, taken at a meeting of the state’s cabinet on Wednesday, was announced by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
“We have decided to ban serving and consumption of beef in restaurants, hotels and public places,” Biswa Sarma said at a press conference.
The CM pointed out that the existing law on beef consumption was strong, but there was no prohibition on consumption of beef at restaurants, hotels and religious or social gatherings.
“In Assam, we have decided that beef will not be served in any restaurant or hotel and also it will not be served in any public function or public place, so from today we have completely decided to stop the consumption of beef in hotels, restaurants and public places. Earlier we decided to stop eating beef near temples, 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,” Biswa Sarma explained.
The chief minister, who attended the meeting virtually from Delhi, said a cabinet expansion will take place on December 7.