Rule on cow trade won’t affect party in NE: BJP

At a time when Centre’s notification that bans sale and purchase of cattle from animal markets for slaughter has already led to resignations of senior BJP members in Meghalaya, the party is confident that it will not affect its expansion plans in the region.

Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh had already told mediapersons on Monday that the state’s first BJP-led government won’t implement any notification which would violate people’s food habits.

The saffron outfit is in power in Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, but it plans to expand further in Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura — where assembly elections are due next year.

The Centre’s notification has led to controversy in Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram, which have a dominant Christian population and consumption of beef is common.

“It may have some impact now, but by the time elections are held, it will become insignificant. The Congress is spreading lies on the issue and we need to educate the public that the notification won’t hurt their food habits,” said JV Hluna, Mizoram BJP unit chief.

In the past week, two district unit presidents in Garo Hills region of Meghalaya quit the BJP after their plan to organise a beef party to mark three years of Modi government was turned down by the state and the central leadership. “We welcome the resignations. There’s nothing to worry about and this talk of a blanket ban on consumption of beef, due to the restrictions, is fabricated,” Shibun Lyngdoh, Meghalaya president of the party said.