Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tabled the much-talked about Assam Cattle Preservation Bill 2021 in Assembly on Monday.
The proposed Assam Cattle Preservation Bill 2021 was tabled on the first day of the Budget Session of the Assam Assembly on Monday for discussions.
Earlier, the Assam Cabinet had approved the Bill for introduction in the Assembly.
The Bill “envisages imposition of complete ban on transport of cattle outside the state.”
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The bill has been introduced with the aim of bringing an end to illegal cattle smuggling to Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, Assam Government’s move to introduce the cow protection bill has raised concerns in the other northeast states, where beef is consumed.
Most of the cattle imported for consumption by the other northeast states, passes through Assam. But if the proposed bill is passed in Assam, there will be a massive shortage of meat in the other northeast states.
Meghalaya government would intervene if the transportation of cattle to the state is affected by the proposed cow protection law in Assam, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has said.
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“We have to examine the law after Assam passes and implements it. We have to see the terms and conditions and how they plan to implement it. It would not be correct for me to comment more without seeing the content of the Bill,” CM Sangma said.
“However, if there is an issue that will hamper the economy of Meghalaya, the matter will be taken up with the Assam government as well as the Centre,” he added.
Beef is popular in Meghalaya and cattle from different parts of the country reach the state through Assam.