Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday appealed to the followers of Islam in the state not to sacrifice any animals that might hurt the feelings of their neighbors following other beliefs, as prescribed by the state’s cattle preservation laws.
The Chief Minister pleaded with Muslims to observe the prescribed practises without offending those who practise other faiths.
The Assam Cattle Preservation Act, passed in 2021, forbids the slaughter of only cows, calves, and heifers, but authorises the killing of other specified cattle, such as bulls and bullocks, in slaughterhouses with a licence or on other grounds with the assistance of a veterinary officer. Additionally, the law allows the state government to exclude certain places of worship or religious gatherings from the prohibition on the killing of cattle other than cows, heifers, and calves.
Additionally, the law forbids the direct or indirect sale, offer for sale, exposure for sale, or purchase of beef or beef products in any form in areas primarily inhabited by Hindu, Sikh, Jain, or other non-beef eating communities, within a radius of five kilometres of religious institutions belonging to the Hindu religion, or any other area or institution that has been designated.
The Assam Cattle Preservation Act of 2021 and the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations of 2011 contain restrictions on animal slaughter, which the Gauhati High Court has made clear. Animal slaughter is permitted on Bakrid, but only in accordance with these restrictions.
