The administration of Arunachal Pradesh's Itanagar Capital Complex district has issued a controversial order directing hotels and restaurants in the Naharlagun subdivision to stop using "beef" on their signboards.
On 13 July 2022, the order signed by Shri Tamo Dada, Executive Magistrate, Naharlagun states that “The District Administration of ICR believes in the secular spirit of the Indian Constitution, but such open display of the word beef in hotel and restaurant signboards can hurt feelings of certain sections of the community and enmity between different groups of the community." As per the order, hotels and restaurants failing to comply will have to pay a fine of Rs 2,000 and lose their business license.
Dada told the media that the directive was a "preventive order" made after a "verbal complaint" by "local Hindus" in the area.
In Naharlagun, a district official said residents are not on the same page with the administration on the matter. People do not agree with this because people of Arunachal eat beef and there are complaints about the removal of sign boards.
The BJP government, which emphasizes the worship of cows in line with Hindu beliefs, has repeatedly said that meat, including beef, is widely consumed in the Northeast region and does not demand a ban on any beef in the Northeast region. In Arunachal, Mithun, a large bovine, is reared extensively for milk and meat.