"I challenge Assam Congress to welcome beef ban or go and settle in Pakistan": Pijush Hazarika

New Delhi [India], December 4 : After Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced a ban on consumption of beef in public places in the state, Assam Minister Pijush Hazarika on Wednesday challenged the state Congress to welcome the ban or "go and settle in Pakistan".
"I challenge Assam Congress to welcome the beef ban or go and settle in Pakistan," Hazarika wrote on X.
Notably, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi has criticised the Assam Government's decision, accusing CM Sarma of trying to divert attention from the BJP's recent loss in the Jharkhand Assembly elections.
"After leading the BJP to a humiliating loss in Jharkhand, the Chief Minister of Assam is attempting to obscure his failure. Like the discerning voters of Jharkhand, the people of Assam will also punish the BJP's corruption, misrule, and obscene wealth in the upcoming election," the Congress leader wrote on X.
This comes after CM Sarma on Wednesday announced a ban on the public consumption and sale of beef in the state, prohibiting its serving in restaurants, hotels, and public places.
"In Assam, we have decided that beef will not be served in any restaurant or hotel and also it will not be served in any public function or public place, so from today we have completely decided to stop the consumption of beef in hotels, restaurants and public places. Earlier our decision was to stop eating beef near temples but now we have expanded it to the entire state so you will not be able to eat it in any community place, public place, hotel or restaurant," he said while addressing a press conference.
BJP MP from Assam's Darrang-Udalguri, Dilip Saikia called the ban a "historic decision" saying that the decision should not be seen from a communal angle but only respect towards a religious faith.
"It is a historic decision. The public also wanted this. This decision should not be seen from a communal angle but only with respect towards a religious faith. There is no ban on the consumption of beef in private," he said.
AIUDF MLA and Party General Secretary, Dr (Hafiz) Rafiqul Islam criticised the decision and said that the cabinet should not be deciding on what people will eat or wear.
"The cabinet should not be deciding on what will people eat or wear. BJP cannot ban beef in Goa, they cannot ban beef in northeastern states, then why in Assam? We do not pay much heed to this decision," the AIUDF MLA said.