Assam Chief Minister Drags Beef Consumption Into Guwahati Central Election Campaign
In a dramatic escalation of rhetoric, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has injected the contentious issue of beef consumption directly into the electoral battle for the Guwahati Central seat. The BJP leader has specifically targeted Kunki Chowdhury, the 27-year-old debutant candidate fielded by the Congress-led alliance, threatening legal action against her parents under the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021.
Legal Threats Over Alleged Social Media Posts
During a media interaction on Saturday night, CM Sarma declared his intention to pursue legal measures against Chowdhury's parents after the election concludes. "After the election, I will take action against her parents as per the Cattle Prevention Act. I will accept everything, but not eating beef," Sarma stated emphatically.
The Chief Minister alleged that Kunki Chowdhury's mother, Sujata Gurung Chowdhury, had shared posts related to beef consumption and made remarks offensive to certain communities, thereby "hurting the sentiments of 'Sanatani' people." He challenged the young candidate to publicly disown her parents over the matter, saying "If she says she is not with her parents, then I am with her."
Candidate's Firm Denial and Counter-Allegations
Kunki Chowdhury, who has been given a ticket by Congress's key ally Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), categorically denied all allegations, labeling them as "fake and baseless" and accusing the Chief Minister of spreading deliberate misinformation. In a video posted on social media, she thanked Sarma for making her a household name across the country while firmly rejecting his claims.
"A big thanks to the honourable CM. I learnt that during a media interaction, he made some allegations against my mother, which are completely untrue," Chowdhury stated, adding that the CM's remarks demonstrate that the BJP has already accepted defeat in Guwahati Central.
Broader Cultural and Religious Dimensions
Sarma expanded his criticism to question which religious leaders would support Chowdhury, referencing Assam's satradhikars (heads of satra functionaries) and the Kamakhya temple. "Assam is Kamakhya temple. Which satradhikar will vote for her? They are talking about Gen Z. Does Gen Z eat beef? My head spins after hearing about eating beef," he remarked.
The Chief Minister further claimed that even members of the 'miya' community - a pejorative term used for Bangladesh-origin migrant Muslims in Assam - had stopped consuming beef at his request and now eat buffalo meat instead. "When I have stopped the Miyas from having beef, will I allow Kunki Chowdhury to eat it? No parent will be spared... I had issued shoot-at-sight orders for bringing beef during Eid in Dhubri," Sarma asserted.
Legal Context and Additional Allegations
It is important to note that beef consumption itself is not illegal in Assam. However, the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021, does ban cattle slaughter and the sale of beef in areas where Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs constitute the majority, as well as within a five-kilometer radius of Hindu religious places.
Sarma also made additional allegations against Chowdhury's family, claiming that her father had encroached on land. "His university is in my constituency. Nobody should support her without knowing the background," he cautioned.
Cyber Complaint Filed Over Deepfake Videos
In a related development, Kunki Chowdhury has filed a police complaint regarding alleged deepfake defamatory videos circulating on social media about her family. She alleged that "unidentified individuals or social media handles circulated manipulated videos using AI" following Sarma's claims about her mother's food habits.
Chandan Das, Officer-in-Charge of the Cyber Police Station in Guwahati, confirmed that an FIR has been registered under relevant charges of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and that investigations have commenced.
Identity Politics in Guwahati Central
The contest in Guwahati Central constituency has largely revolved around issues of Assamese versus non-Assamese identity. The BJP's rival candidate, 70-year-old Hindi-speaking veteran Vijay Kumar Gupta, claims he is as Assamese as anyone, while the young Kunki Chowdhury represents a new generation of political aspirants.
CM Sarma's forceful intervention has transformed what was already a heated contest into a battleground over cultural identity, religious sentiment, and legal boundaries regarding food habits in Assam's complex social landscape.
