Officials in Arunachal Pradesh’s Naharlagun have issued an order calling for the removal of the word “Beef”.
In an order issued by the Extra Assistant Commissioner, Naharlagun, Government of Arunachal Pradesh, the officials have said that there are numerous Hotels and Restaurants mushrooming within the administrative boundary of Naharlagun sub-division with the word ‘BEEF” written on them.
Whereas the district Administration of ICR believes in the “Secular” spirit of our Indian constitution but such open display of the word beef on the signboards of such Hotels and Restaurants may hurt the sentiments of some sections of the community and may create animosity between different groups of the community, the order noted.
Therefore, so as to maintain peace in the community and to continue the spirit of secularism and brotherhood within the community, I Shri Tamo Dada, Executive Magistrate, Naharlagun Sub-Division hereby direct all such Hotels and Restaurants that have written the word BEEF on their signboards to remove such word by 18/07/2022, read the order.
“Failing which a fine of Rs 2000 ( Rupees Two thousand only ) and cancelation of such Trading license will be initiated,” the official order read.
Social media users from the nort India state reacted sharply to the imposition and called for the revocation of the orders.
“Virus didn’t even spare the innocent tribal State AP where beef and pork have nothing to do with communities sentiments. All imported sentiments ,” wrote Machow Ngaimong.
Another social media user,Mercius Khandusow Kaleu wrote, “Beef is not a God, it’s only simple animals like any other animals…..n mostly this is Arunachal state where Tribals dominated area…so administration shouldn’t issue such kind of order…. Eating, feeding, etc is our costumes, traditions n culture.”
The move is coming at a time, when several states in India are gripped by a communal violence and incidents of mob lynching at the hands of cow vigilantes are frequently reported.
Pertinently, the North eastern state is ruled by the Bhartiya Janta Party. The right-wing Hindutva party recently managed to “unopposedly” win 102 out of 130 panchayat seats in the state.