SHILLONG, Sep 14: The Congress has taken a strong note of the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021, terming it as an infringement on the fundamental rights of the people of Meghalaya.
The Opposition party on Tuesday raised a short duration discussion on the scarcity of staple food in the state due to the restriction on cattle movement in adjoining Assam.
Participating in the discussion, Opposition leader Mukul Sangma urged the state government to write to the Centre on how this Act infringes upon the fundamental rights of the people of Meghalaya in violation of Article 19 of the Constitution.
Senior Congress MLA Charles Pyngrope said there have been instances of cattle traders from Meghalaya harassed in Assam and even arrested for 24 hours in Khanapara while transporting cattle after which they filed complaints with the Byrnihat police.
The Opposition members also urged the political parties in the North East to unite against this Act.
East Shillong MLA Ampareen Lyngdoh said Assam should stop behaving like a big bully, advocating legislation that will protect the interest of the state.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said he discussed the matter in detail with his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma who had agreed in principle that necessary permission for transportation of cattle from Assam will be given to the Meghalaya government.
Earlier, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister Sanbor Shullai said he has written to Sarma seeking his intervention in Section 7 of the Act for the hassle-free passage for the cattle traders from Meghalaya.
He pointed out that the department is creating an administrative system for harassment-free passage of the cattle through Assam, adding that rules will be framed to facilitate cattle transportation to Meghalaya from other parts of the country.
Shullai also said the prices of beef in the state have shot up. Smuggling and lesser inflow of cattle during the COVID situation could be among the reasons, he added.
