Guwahati, May 26: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on May 26 appealed for communal harmony ahead of Bakrid, or Eid al-Adha, urging people to refrain from cow sacrifice and stating that no religious scripture makes it compulsory.
Addressing the Assembly on the third day of the ongoing session, Sarma said certain Bengali Muslim organisations in Assam had already decided not to use cows for sacrifice during Eid in consideration of the sentiments of the Hindu community. He described the development as a positive sign and said it reflected a changing social outlook.
The chief minister thanked members of the Muslim community in the state for what he termed a thoughtful initiative aimed at strengthening communal harmony. He said that if such a decision gained wider acceptance, it would have a significant impact on strengthening peaceful coexistence among communities in Assam.
Sarma also appealed to others who had not yet taken a decision to follow similar examples and avoid cow sacrifice during the upcoming festival. According to him, several people had already opted for such a step, and he reiterated his appeal from the floor of the Assembly.
During his speech, the chief minister also referred to the recently introduced Uniform Civil Code Bill and said the proposed legislation would provide social security benefits to men and women belonging to minority communities.
Highlighting the state’s economic progress, Sarma said Assam’s gross domestic product had reached Rs 8.71 lakh crore over the past five years. He expressed confidence that the state’s poverty rate could decline to between two and three per cent over the next five years.
He further said maternal mortality rates had reduced significantly over the last decade and announced that the government would once again create employment opportunities for two lakh youths through government recruitment initiatives.
Focusing on entrepreneurship, Sarma said the government was working towards building a strong ecosystem for self-employment and aimed to create 10 lakh young entrepreneurs in Assam. He stated that these entrepreneurs could eventually generate employment opportunities for several others.
Criticising the previous Congress administration, the chief minister alleged that the state had suffered from severe financial constraints during its tenure and claimed that government employees had at one point gone without salaries for six months.
He also stated that people had supported the NDA with expectations of development and security, while reaffirming the alliance’s commitment to protecting indigenous communities.
Sarma added that one of the government’s key priorities over the next five years would be to make Assam “foreigner-free”, reiterating the administration’s position on identifying and deporting people residing illegally in the state.
