Nagaland authorities prevent ‘Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra’ from entering state

DIMAPUR — Nagaland authorities on Thursday prevented the ‘Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra’ led by Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati from entering the state, following a recent Cabinet decision.

The yatra, which aims to promote a nationwide ban on cow slaughter and declare the cow as the national mother, was halted at Dimapur Airport upon arrival.

A team of six members, including Swami Avimukteshwaranand, arrived at Dimapur Airport by chartered plane from Itanagar where they were also denied entry into the state of Arunachal Pradesh.

Authorities detained the group at the airport and later diverted them to Guwahati, Assam, effectively blocking their entry into Nagaland.

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Earlier on September 11, the Nagaland Cabinet had decided to prohibit the yatra within the state after considering the opposition voiced by various civil society organisations and political parties.

Related: Nagaland government denies permission for Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra

In line with this decision, the Commissioner of Police issued an order forbidding the yatra in Dimapur, Chümoukedima, and Niuland districts. The order cited “apprehension of disturbance of public order and in view of the provision contained in para (1) (a)  of Article 371 (A) of the Constitution of India.”

As part of the preventive measures, police conducted checks on all vehicles entering the airport. Vehicles suspected of being there to pick up the yatra team were held at the airport gate and denied entry.

Following the team’s departure, Deputy Commissioner of Chümoukedima, Polan John, who was present at the airport, said that there was no commotion during the proceedings. He noted that while Swami Avimukteshwaranand was initially agitated about being stopped, he calmed down after officials explained the situation.

The authorities informed the team about the Cabinet decision not to permit their Yatra in Nagaland and that they were instructed not to allow the team to leave the airport.

After the explanation, the yatra team understood the situation and complied with the government’s decision. Before leaving, Swami Avimukteshwaranand requested officials to convey his message to the people of Nagaland, stating that he had come to resolve issues, not to create them, the DC said.