Guwahati, May 27 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday welcomed appeals by several Eidgah committees and members of the Muslim community in the state to refrain from cow slaughter during Eid, saying the move would strengthen Assam’s cultural harmony and social unity.

Taking to X, Sarma said many Eidgah committees across Assam had earlier urged people to avoid cow sacrifice, and now several members of the Muslim community had voluntarily come forward to adopt the appeal.

“In Assam, several Eidgah committees had earlier appealed to refrain from cow sacrifice, and now in many places the Muslim community itself has come forward to adopt it,” the Chief Minister wrote in Hindi on X.

Referring to reports from different districts, Sarma said the positive message of cow protection emerging from places such as Barpeta, Lakhimpur, Hojai, and Kamrup would further reinforce Assam’s cultural unity.

“This positive message of cow protection coming from Barpeta, Lakhimpur, Hojai, and Kamrup, among other places, will further strengthen Assam’s cultural unity. I wholeheartedly thank all committees and aware citizens,” he said.

Earlier, the Chief Minister had shared another post on X highlighting the appeal issued by the Dhubri Town Eidgah Committee.

According to Sarma, the committee urged people to refrain from cow slaughter to respect the sentiments of the Hindu community and comply with the law of the land.

“Following the call by various committees, the Dhubri Town Eidgah Committee has also urged people to refrain from cow slaughter to honour the sentiments of Hindus and follow the law of the land,” Sarma had posted.

He also appealed to Eid committees across Assam to come forward and make the upcoming Eid celebrations “cow slaughter-free”.

The issue has triggered political and social discussions in Assam, where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government has repeatedly emphasised communal harmony and the strict enforcement of cattle protection laws.

Assam has stringent provisions under the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021, which regulate the slaughter, sale, and transportation of cattle in the state.

–IANS

tdr/dan