Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said he will take action against the parents of AJP candidate Kunki Chowdhury for allegedly consuming beef and uploading a picture of it on social media.

Ms. Chowdhury (27), who is making her electoral debut from the Guwahati Central Assembly constituency, has repeatedly denied the allegations, terming it as fake news being spread by Sarma.

“After the election, I will take action against her parents as per the Cattle Prevention Act. I will accept everything, but not eating beef,” the Chief Minister told reporters when asked about the ongoing controversy.

Consumption of beef is not illegal in the State, but the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021, bans cattle slaughter and sale of beef in areas where Hindus, Jains and Sikhs are in majority, and in places within a five-km radius of a temple or satra (Vaishnavite monastery).

On Thursday (April 2), Mr. Sarma had claimed that her mother, academician Sujata Gurung Chowdhury, had shared posts related to beef consumption, made remarks offensive to certain sections and supported Pakistan, thereby hurting the sentiments of ‘Sanatani’ people.

“Forget whether Kunki wins or loses… Let her say that her parents eat beef, she is a Sanatani Hindu and she has disowned them. If she says she is not with her parents, then I am with her,” Mr. Sarma said.

“Will you vote for people eating beef? Which ‘Satradhikar’ will vote for her?” he said. — PTI