Guwahati: The stalwart political face of Hindutva the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) which on the one hand is closing down the slaughter houses all over Uttar Pradesh and is vouching to enforce ban on beef eating in the Indian Sub continent has here today issued a statement in which it has purportedly said that it will not enforce any kind of ban on beef eating in the north-eastern states which will go to polls next year.
It is being perceived by many as a compromise made by the Hindutva outfit with its core agenda on the bases of which it has been playing politics in the past and came to power in the rest of the Indian sub continent, with the sole purpose of capturing power in these states as, Beef is widely consumed in Christian majority Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland and the drive against illegal abattoirs in UP has had repercussions in these states.
In a damage control mode the party’s Meghalaya unit general secretary David Kharsati reportedly issued a statement on Sunday blaming “groups with vested interest” for spreading rumours.
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“Ban on cow slaughter like the one in UP won’t take effect in Nagaland if our party comes to power next year. The reality here is very different and our central leaders are aware of that, said Nagaland BJP chief Visasolie Lhoungu while talking to Hindustan Times (HT).
As per 2011 census nearly 88% of Nagaland’s population of around 2 million, are Christians. The figure is 87% for Mizoram and nearly 75% for Meghalaya.
Congress is in power in Meghalaya and Mizoram while BJP is a minor partner in the Naga People’s Front-led Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) coalition in Nagaland.
“There would be no ban on cow slaughter in Mizoram and other states in the region where there is a majority Christian population,” claims Mizoram BJP president JV Hluna.
Fresh from the electoral victory in Manipur, where the BJP managed to set up its first government with the help of smaller parties, BJP is looking to repeat similar successes in the three states, reads a quote in an English vernacular.
Slaughter of animals and birds in private homes and social gatherings still take place across north-east as part of tradition associated with some festivals.
“Even in UP, action is being taken on slaughter houses operating without proper license. While there would be no ban on cow slaughter, we would like the government to ensure killing and sale of animals is done legally and in a hygienic manner,” reads a quote from the statement of Meghalaya BJP chief Shibun Lyngdoh given to the media.