SHILLONG, June 17: A certain shortage in supply of cattle to Meghalaya has been reported of late due to Assam government introducing a bill for protection of cow in the neighbouring state. In the wake of this development, Shillong MP Vincent Pala has asserted that he would take up the matter pertaining to transportation of cattle from Assam to Meghalaya.
Speaking to media persons here on Thursday, Pala claimed that Meghalaya has all legal rights to bring cattle from outside the state.
He also mentioned that apart from consumption, cattle are also used for rearing. “We consume the highest amount of beef in the entire country and it cannot be stopped only because Assam lies in between,” Pala said.
Recently, the Khasi Jaintia Butchers Welfare Association had pointed out that there has been a shortage of supply of cattle to Meghalaya after Assam Government introducing the Cow Protection Bill in its recent Assembly session.
The Association maintained that no cattle are coming from outside the state after Assam had made the announcement to come up with the bill.
Last month, Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi had announced that his government would introduce legislation in the next session of the House to protect the cows in the state.
While many interpreted the announcement to be a part of the plan to ban cow slaughter in the state — as several BJP-ruled states have done the same in recent times — the proposed bill, reportedly has no intent to regulate slaughter of any animal or its consumption.
Instead, it envisages the imposition of a complete ban on the transport of cattle outside the state.
Interstate border issue
Meanwhile, the Shillong MP asserted that both Assam and Meghalaya should try and resolve their interstate boundary issues.
He also mentioned that he will take up the matter of the boundary dispute with his colleagues from Assam in the Parliament as well as the Meghalaya Chief Minister and ask the Centre to intervene and resolve the matter.
