One of the most strident supporters for a complete ban on slaughter of cows, buffaloes and ox elsewhere, the BJP has a tough balancing act to perform in Meghalaya, a Christian-dominated state in the northeast that counts beef as a basic, and affordable source of protein for the masses. This week, BJP leaders elsewhere in the country backed the Centre for its tough cattle trade rules that would make it tougher for the meat industry to source animals for slaughter.