Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday welcomed appeals by several Eidgah committees and members of the Muslim community in Assam to refrain from cow slaughter during Eid, saying the move would strengthen cultural harmony and social unity in the state.
Posting on X, Sarma said many Eidgah committees across Assam had earlier urged people to avoid cow sacrifice and that members of the Muslim community in several areas had voluntarily supported the appeal. Referring to reports from districts such as Barpeta, Lakhimpur, Hojai and Kamrup, the chief minister said the message of cow protection would further reinforce Assam's cultural unity. He also thanked Eidgah committees and citizens for supporting the initiative.
Earlier, Sarma had shared a post highlighting an appeal by the Dhubri Town Eidgah Committee, which urged people to refrain from cow slaughter to respect Hindu sentiments and comply with the law. The chief minister further appealed to Eid committees across Assam to help make the upcoming Eid celebrations "cow slaughter-free".
The issue has sparked political and social discussions in the state, where the BJP-led government has repeatedly emphasised communal harmony and strict enforcement of cattle protection laws. Assam currently follows stringent regulations under the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021, which governs the slaughter, sale and transportation of cattle.
Meanwhile, ahead of Bakri Eid, Yogi Adityanath directed officials across Uttar Pradesh to maintain strict vigilance and ensure law and order during the festival period. During a review meeting, the chief minister instructed authorities that animal sacrifice should not take place in public spaces and must only be carried out at designated locations. He reiterated that the sacrifice of prohibited animals remains banned and said no new traditions or practices should be encouraged during the celebrations.
Adityanath also stressed the need for proper disposal of waste generated after ritual sacrifices and ordered strict monitoring of meat sales and slaughterhouses. He said open sale of meat would not be allowed, illegal slaughterhouses should be shut down, and licensed facilities must operate strictly within approved limits.
The Uttar Pradesh chief minister further instructed officials to remain alert regarding sanitation, electricity supply and security arrangements. He ordered flag marches and continuous police patrolling in sensitive areas and around religious places. Officials in districts including Aligarh, Bijnor, Saharanpur, Rampur and Sambhal were asked to review past incidents, identify disruptive elements and take preventive measures wherever necessary. He also directed authorities to continue regular engagement with peace committees at police station, tehsil and district levels.
Reviewing preparations for the upcoming Ganga Dussehra festival, Adityanath instructed officials to ensure cleanliness at ghats, proper barricading, ambulance deployment, shaded waiting areas and effective parking arrangements in districts such as Prayagraj, Varanasi, Ayodhya, Chitrakoot, Hapur, Muzaffarnagar and Amroha. With temperatures remaining high, he said the safety and comfort of devotees must remain the top priority.
