The newly-elected Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma government has tabled Assam Cattle Preservation Bill 2021 in the state Assembly to regulate slaughter, consumption, and transportation of cattle.
Sarma used the micro-blogging site Twitter to inform about the introduction of the bill in the state Assembly and said, “Cattle are revered in our society from time immemorial. Respecting our deep-rooted belief system and agricultural necessity, we’ve tabled Assam Cattle Preservation Bill, 2021 in Assembly to regulate slaughter, consumption and transportation of cattle,”.
Cattle are revered in our society from time immemorial.
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) July 12, 2021
Respecting our deep-rooted belief system & agricultural necessity, we've tabled Assam Cattle Preservation Bill, 2021 in Assembly to regulate slaughter, consumption & transportation of cattle. https://t.co/M1RfYmbps7
The bill proposes to ban the sale of beef and beef products in areas that are “predominatly inhabited by Hindu, Jain and Sikh and other non-beef eating communities” and the bill has further provisions wherein selling of beef and beef products within “5 Kms of any temple, satra, or other religious institutions belonging to Hindu religion or any other institution or area”.
But more importantly, the bill also proposes a ban on the slaughter of cattle without a certificate from a competent authority and the transportation of cattle within Assam or outside the state without a valid permit will also be prohibited.
However, cattle may be allowed to be transported for bonafide agricultural or animal husbandry purposes and no permission will be required for transporting cattle to and from registered Animal Market for the purpose of purchase and sale within the district, according to the bill.
The new bill also proposes the setting up of ‘Gaushalas’ for taking care of cattle and penalties are also proposed for offences under the bill that include imprisonment ranging from a minimum of three years to eight years with fine not less than 3 lakh rupees and may extend to 5 lakh rupees.
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