Shillong, Aug 21: Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has asked the Centre to exempt the north eastern region from the purview of its move to ban cow slaughter in the country and decided to take it up with the party high command. ''Beef being a major food in the north-east, the region should be exempted from the purview of the ban,'' MPCC president S C Marak told reporters after a meeting yesterday.
Marak, a former chief minister of the state, said the BJP-led NDA government's move would otherwise be seen as a 'restriction imposed on food habit' of the regional people. Asked if MPCC would take up the matter with its high command, Marak said the party discussed the issue in the meeting attended by AICC Secretary Ved Prakash. ''he will convey our sentiments to the central leadership.'' Congress' resentment over the cow slaughter issue came on a day when the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government led by the party in its cabinet meeting decided to write to the prime minister opposing the Centre's move.

Bureau Report