Even as the state government decided not to grant permission to hold ‘Gau Dhwaj Yatra’ scheduled to be held in Kohima on September 28, several organisations have expressed opposition to the yatra.
RH: Rengma Hoho (RH) through its president Tesinlo Semy and general secretary Shatilo Kent appreciated the state government’s stance in preserving the socio-religious fabric of Naga people by deciding not to implement the Cow Slaughter Act, 2019.
RH claimed that many cultures, including the Nagas, had traditionally consumed beef as part of their dietary habits, which was permissible under the Constitution of India. They cautioned that cow slaughter ban and the promotion of movements like Gau Dhwaj Yatra in Nagaland would violate Article 371A and disrupt the socio-religious harmony of the region. They maintained that imposition of such acts would infringe on the religious freedom guaranteed by the Constitution of India, which allowed individuals to practice their faith without coercion.
They stressed that any attempt to introduce laws or campaigns that contradicted the cultural and religious practices of the Naga people must be resisted, as these would not only violate constitutional provisions but also threaten the unity and harmony of Naga society. They called upon all concerned to respect the rights of the Naga people as enshrined in the constitution and refrain from imposing alien practices that where in conflict with their traditions and values.
HSS: Hindu Seva Samiti (HSS) has registered strong objection and condemned the so-called “Gau Dhwaj Yatra”. In a press release, HSS president Gopal Sharma stated that any yatra, which disturbed the social religious atmosphere of the state, was “not appreciable at all.”
HSS requested the state government not to allow such yatra in Nagaland. KTCN: Expressing strong opposition to the proposed ‘Gau Dhwaj Yatra’, scheduled to be held at Kohima in September 28, 2024, to promote the ban on cow slaughter, the Kachari Tribal Council Nagaland (KTCN) said that organising events such as ‘Gau Dhwaj Yatra’ in Nagaland has the tendency to disturb the peaceful social fabric and bring disharmony. KTCN through its media cell pointed out that Nagaland is a state where the religious and social practices of the Nagas were protected by the constitutional provisions of Article 371A.
The council also said that Nagas never forcefully infringed or imposed their food preferences and beliefs upon others. Instead, KTCN said people from different religious beliefs were always free to practice their own religion without any fear or threat from any corners.
KTCN has, therefore, urged the yatra organisers to respect the sentiments of the people of Nagaland or any other state and uphold the term ‘Secular’ which was added to the Indian Constitution’s Preamble in 1976 and try not to impose their personal beliefs on others.
PBCA: Phom Baptist Christian Association (PBCA) has alleged that the Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra was politically empowered and religiously motivated to impose Hindu culture in India.
In a press release, PBCA executive secretary N Tialemba Phom declared that the cultural binding rule in the form of a ban on cow slaughter could not be imposed upon Naga society.
PBCA asserted that the Phom Naga society could not allow alien mono-cultural intruders into their land. The church said Naga youngsters had never been taught to respect and worship cow as mother (Gau Mata) by their forefathers.
NH lauds govt decision to disallow ‘Gau Dhwaj Yatra’
Naga Hoho (NH) has welcomed the state cabinet’s decision to deny permission to hold the Gau Mahasaba at Kohima on September 28 being organised by a Hindu organisation.
The hoho maintained that in the Naga custom and tradition, cow was a livestock that was reared to provide the Nagas with meat and milk, and assist them in their field works. NH asserted that cows would be continued to be reared by the Nagas to provide them with the same provisions.
The hoho claimed that the organisation planning the yatra was well aware of the fact that there would be opposition to the yatra in other regions too, not just Nagas.
The hoho said such blatant disregard for the rights, traditions, customs and religion of other people could be seen as an effort to incite unrest and conflict along religious and communal lines, or as an effort to impose religious and cultural practices of the majority upon the minority, and must be condemned by every discerning citizen of India, not just the affected community.