Akhil Gogoi Wants Open Debate on Disputed Assam Cattle Preservation Bill 2021

GUWAHATI:

Akhil Gogoi, lone Raijor Dal MLA from Sibsagar, sought an open discussion on the Assam Cattle Preservation Bill in the Assembly on Thursday. 

Taking to media persons, Gogoi stated that he had a few objections to the recently proposed Assam Cattle Preservation Bill 2021, which is one of the seven bills that has been tabled by the Himanta Biswa Sarma led BJP government in the state during the current budget session. 

The peasant leader was of the opinion that an open debate regarding this contentious bill will provide his party with the opportunity to their viewpoints. He maintains that seeking amendments to the bill will imply that his party fully supports the bill. 

Gogoi indicated that he will search for a mechanism that will allow his party to oppose the proposed bill without having to make any amendments. 

Gogoi believes that if this bill becomes law, the price of other meat would rise, suggesting that the bill is also linked to farmers' livelihoods and will cause issues in agricultural activities. 

According to him, the law will force the shutdown of beef marketplaces in Upper Assam.

The recently proposed Assam Cattle Preservation Bill, 2021, which Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma is the most outspoken proponent of, has prompted a range of reactions from various politicians and citizens in Assam and throughout India. Many politicians, notably those from the minority Muslim community, have expressed dissatisfaction with the draught measure, which seeks to effectively ban beef in regions within 5 kilometres of any temple grounds of non-beef eating communities.

The peasant leader also stated that it is a matter of sheer irony that in a time when people compellingly require vaccination to fight against the deadly contagion at their doorstep, the government is instead providing alcohol on a door to door basis. 

Earlier on Thursday, Gogoi was warned by the Speaker for breaching assembly rules. Speaker Biswajit Daimary has threatened to remove Gogoi from the Assembly House if he persists to break the rules. During the question hour, Akhil Gogoi highlighted the problem of areca nut smuggling from Myanmar to the state.  

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