BJP not to dictate food habits of people

SHILLONG: After the recent controversy over scheduling DigiDhan Mela on Good Friday, the State BJP said the party will go with the people as far as the issue of consumption of beef is concerned.
State BJP president Shibun Lyngdoh said the ban on cow slaughter is a state subject and BJP will go with the people as the party does not want to interfere in the food habits of the majority of people in Meghalaya.
“The Government can look into the hygienic aspects of slaughter houses as (otherwise) there will be health hazards,” Lyngdoh said.
Under criticism from political parties, the Centre had to defer the proposed DigiDhan Mela in Meghalaya and two other Northeastern states on account of Good Friday.
The BJP, which is aiming big in Meghalaya and the rest of the Christian majority Northeastern states in 2018, does not want to risk disturbing the religious sentiments and eating habits of the people in the region ahead of the polls.
In this context, soon after the Good Friday issue was flagged by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, the state party leadership carried out damage control exercise by writing to the Centre to defer the DigiDhan Mela.