THE Assam state committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has, in a statement issued on December 7, has strongly criticised the Assam chief minister's recent announcement prohibiting beef consumption in public places, including festivals, religious ceremonies, and community functions.

The CPI(M) highlighted Assam's long history of peaceful coexistence between its Hindu majority and significant Muslim population. The Party emphasized that the state has never experienced conflicts related to food habits, with diverse communities living together in harmony and mutual respect.

The CPI(M) accused the BJP government of pushing a communal agenda to polarise society through divisive politics. Referring to the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021, the Party asserted that the law was introduced to create communal tensions despite its impracticality in Assam's socio-cultural context. The Act, which bans the sale and purchase of cattle, has adversely impacted Hindu and Muslim cattle farmers alike.

The CPI(M) said the latest announcement banning public beef consumption is another calculated move to deepen religious divides. The Party condemned the decision as a violation of the constitutional rights of nearly 38 per cent of Assam's population, comprising Muslims and Christians, and labelled it an attempt to criminalise dietary practices.

Calling the chief minister's announcement an act of "extreme communal and fascistic governance," the CPI(M) urged citizens to oppose this provocative and divisive step by the BJP government. The Party reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the rights and cultural practices of all communities in Assam.