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DIMAPUR — The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Nagaland State has distanced itself from the contentious “Gau Dhwaj Sthapna Bharat Yatra,” a campaign advocating for a nationwide ban on cow slaughter, scheduled to be held in Kohima on September 28.
In a press statement on Tuesday, BJP Nagaland State president Benjamin Yepthomi stated unequivocally that the group organising the yatra has “nothing to do with the BJP Nagaland State.”
“To set the record straight, this group/organisation has nothing to do with the BJP Nagaland State. While we respect the sentiments and faith of our fellow citizens, it is imperative to address this issue in the context of Nagaland’s unique socio-religious and cultural fabric”, the statement read.
Also read: Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra may hurt sentiments in Nagaland — NDPP
The party president said that imposing outside religious views on the state's population would be a direct violation of Article 371A of the Indian Constitution which grants special protections to Nagaland, safeguarding its distinct cultural practices and religious freedoms, including dietary choices.
“Any attempt to impose regulations that contradict these practices, especially in matters of food, is a direct infringement on the rights guaranteed to the people of Nagaland,” he said.
Yepthomi went on to state that Nagaland’s population is predominantly Christian and the proposed ban “not only challenges our cultural and social practices but also goes against our religious beliefs.”
“For many in Nagaland, beef is a favoured and integral part of our cuisine and has been part of our cultural practices and traditional festivals since time immemorial. To impose restrictions on its consumption would deeply affect the cultural identity and daily lives of our people besides grievously hurting our sentiments”, he added.
He cautioned that the campaign could create divisions and undermine the hard-earned social harmony. “While the intent behind the movement may be seen as noble by some, it is crucial to recognise that Nagaland’s social and communal harmony could be disrupted by initiatives that are not aligned with the values and practices of our people,” he said.
Furthermore, the party president clarified that their stance is not an attack on any particular faith or belief system, but a call for mutual respect and understanding within India’s diverse society.
“We strongly urge the organisers of the Gau Dhwaj Sthapna Bharat Yatra to reconsider holding such a program in Nagaland, given the potential implications it will inevitably have on our cultural cohesion and communal peace,” he added.
He also urged the Nagaland government to uphold the protections enshrined in Article 371A, safeguarding the rights and traditions of the Naga people and appealed to all concerned parties to ensure that longstanding peace, harmony and unity is maintained.
In a separate statement, the BJP Mokokchung district echoed the party president’s statement, asserting that the unique socio-religious and cultural fabric of Nagaland, as guaranteed by Article 371A, should be respected.
“We stand by the principle that India’s strength lies in its unity amidst diversity, and any initiative that disregards this could have negative implications for social cohesion”, it said while urging the yatra organisers to reconsider their plans in Nagaland, in order to respect the sentiments of the local communities and avoid creating unnecessary tensions.