India, April 8 -- Amid the intensifying politics in Assam hours ahead of voting, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has clarified his stand on beef consumption, suggesting there is no problem in eating beef, but wants it restricted to private spaces.

The remarks mark a departure from his previous statements, where he warned beef eaters of legal action and vowed: "not to spare those who eat cow meat".

"Muslims eat beef. There is no prohibition on it...There is a big community of Muslims in Assam who eat beef. We don't tell them not to eat. We just tell them to eat it inside their houses. Don't eat at any public place," Biswa told reporters.

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He emphasised that the consumption of beef sh...