‘Beef’ ban Outrage Hits Arunachal, Officer Issues Clarification
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After an order directing hotels and restaurants to remove all signboards with the word ‘Beef’ in it went viral, the EastMojo reported Naharlagun extra assistant commissioner (EAC) Tamo Dada hurrying to issue a clarification that the order was issued only as a “preventive measure” so that people did not make a “religious issue out of it.”
“The Hindus do not consume beef as it is considered to be against their religion and they also consider the cow to be a sacred symbol of life that should be protected and revered. Moreover, nowhere in the country you would see hotels and restaurants openly flaunt ‘beef’ signboards even though they serve the meat,” Dada said.
He added: “The people should not get confused with the order as there is no ban on consuming beef.” The EAC also informed that a verbal complaint was received by his office from “a group of people stating that such signboards hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindu community.”
The EAC, however, did not specify where the “group of people” was from or which community they belonged to.
Dada’s office had on Wednesday issued an order directing all hotels and restaurants within the administrative boundary of the Naharlagun sub-division to remove signboards displaying ‘beef’ by July 18. The order was issued under Section 144 of the CrPC.
According to the EastMojo order instantly generated a buzz in the state, where the majority of the people consume beef. Several people also took to social media to express their outrage and resentment over the same.
It is to be noted that even after the displeasure expressed by people, the EAC has stressed that the order would be strictly implemented and that his office will carry out legal procedures after the deadline for the removal of the sign is over.
Interestingly, the order stated that the district administration of Itanagar Capital Region believed in the secular spirit of the Indian Constitution but such open display of the word ‘beef’ on the signboards of hotels and restaurants may hurt the sentiments of some sections of the community and may create animosity between different groups.
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