The BJP has termed this as a 'passing phase' and has decided to form new committees in Garo hill

Over 5,000 BJP youth workers in Meghalaya have decided to quit the party over the centre's new rules for cattle trade that ban the buying and selling of cattle in animal markets for slaughter. Among them is prominent youth leader Wilver Greham Danggo, who resigned as the Tura City District Youth president."Banning the slaughter means banning the beef as we cannot eat beef without slaughtering it. But why is Jammu and Kashmir excluded from this policy? Does this state not fall in India? If this state is excluded than north-east should be excluded too because it does not fall under 'Indian Regular Regulation Act' or it should be as a mark of respect to our culture and tradition of tribals in Northeast", he wrote in his resignation letter.He said that BJP government was making an attempt to suppress the tribal and other communities who consume beef. Mr Danggo said five BJP mandal committees have been dissolved and over 5,000 youth workers are resigning from the party.Meanwhile, BJP state President Sibun Lyndoh is in the Garo hills region, trying to reorganize the party after three leaders - Bernard Marak, Bacchu Marak and Danggo - quit the party.The BJP has termed this as a 'passing phase' and has decided to form new committees in Garo hill.

For the BJP, Garo hills are very important. Out of the 60 member seat in Assembly, 24 are in the Garo hills and is a stronghold of the chief minister Mukul Sangma.Assembly polls in Meghalaya are due in early 2018.