Guwahati (Assam) [India], July 3 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday challenged the Congress to say that cow slaughter in the name of sacrifice was a "heinous crime", stating that it will take seven lifetimes for the opposition party to say it.
"I challenge Congress to muster the courage to tell the Muslim community in Assam that cow slaughter in the name of sacrifice is a heinous crime. They will never be able to say it. When it comes to the rights of Gaumata (Cow), the BJP does not care about any vote bank," Sarma posted on X.
He said that the BJP has the courage to say that Islam doesn't mandate cow sacrifice and allows for the sacrifices of other animals.
"They will never speak against Qurbani. However, the BJP has the courage to say it clearly: Islam doesn't mandate cow sacrifice specifically. Qurbani can be of other animals too. BJP dares to urge people that on the next Eid, please offer a goat, not a cow. Can Congress do the same? It will take them seven lifetimes to say this. Tell me...who is the true well-wisher of the cow?" Sarma said in a video posted on his X account.
Earlier, Assam Police arrested 205 individuals across the state following a series of coordinated raids targeting establishments suspected of violating the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021, authorities said.
The operation, which began on July 1, covered 191 hotels, restaurants, and slaughterhouses.
Akhilesh Kumar Singh, Inspector General of Police (L&O) of Assam police, speaking to ANI over the phone, said, "The drive in connection with Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021 was started from July 1, and so far 205 persons have been apprehended across the state."He added, "The raids were conducted in 191 hotels, restaurants, and houses. During the raids, police seized 1974 kg of beef."He further stated that this is a statewide initiative, and it will continue.
The Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021, prohibits the slaughter and sale of beef in inhabited areas of Hindu, Jain, Sikh, and other non-beef-eating communities, as well as within a radius of 5 km of any Hindu temple, Satra, Namghar, and other Hindu religious institutions.
According to the Assam police, the drive was conducted in various districts of the state, including Nagaon, Dibrugarh, Kamrup, Dhubri, and Goalpara.On June 20, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that the Act would be strictly enforced, and he directed all District Commissioners to enforce it strictly.
On the issue of communal harmony, the Chief Minister said, "After Eid, a section is trying to harm communal harmony in a few places in Assam, first Dhubri, then Lakhipur, Lakhimpur, Goalpara and now in Hojai.
"Referring to the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, he said, "According to our Cattle Preservation Act, no one can eat or sell beef within a radius of 5 km where a Hindu temple, a Namghar, is situated. Within a radius of 5 km, the eating and selling of beef is completely prohibited."