New Delhi/Shillong, Aug. 11: Delhi’s decision to ban cow slaughter has evoked howls of protest in the Northeast, which has a large beef-eating population.

The chief ministers of Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram today said they would not accept any legislation that clashed with the indigenous cultures of their states.

“India is a multiethnic state. If a bill banning cow slaughter is passed, it could set the ball rolling for efforts to ban the slaughter of pigs. But both beef and pork are part of the food habits of the hill people. So, it will not be feasible to implement such measures and we will oppose them, if need be,” Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga said.

Cow slaughter is a state subject and at least two states have to adopt resolutions authorising the Centre to enact a legislation that makes it illegal throughout the country.

In Nagaland, such a law has to be ratified by the Assembly for it to take effect. According to Article 371 (A) of the Constitution, no act of Parliament is applicable to that state without the Assembly’s ratification.

Barring Kerala, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Lakshadweep, all states already have laws that prohibit cow slaughter. However, the Centre believes these laws have loopholes. A few states allow slaughter of old cows, but the provision is misused.

Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio said there was no question of prohibiting cow slaughter or ratifying a central legislation on the subject. “India is a secular country and the cultures of all communities have to be respected. We will have no hesitation in opposing any move by the Centre to impose a ban on cow slaughter,” he said.

Apart from the predominantly Christian states of Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram, the sizeable non-Hindu population in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh eat beef.

“It is impossible to change our food habits. The Northeast as a whole does not have a very high per capita income and the majority of the people cannot afford an expensive alternative to beef. The dietary pattern of our people has evolved over a long time and cannot be eliminated overnight,” Meghalaya chief minister D.D. Lapang said.

The veteran Congress leader, however, said a decision on the cow slaughter bill would be taken by his party only after consulting its allies. The state unit of the BJP has already voiced its opposition to the proposed ban.

“The proposal does not suit our people and, therefore, I am not in favour of it,” state BJP president W. Kharshiing said.

His party colleague Alexander L. Hek said there should not be “any interference in the people’s food habits”.

According to statistics available with the veterinary and animal husbandry department, over 14 lakh people in Meghalaya eat beef. The state has a population of 23 lakh.