Gau Dhwaj’ to declare cow as ‘rashtra mata’ to be hoisted in Shillong on Oct 2
Shillong, Sept 13: Members of the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) were prevented by police in their attempt to “question” the objective of a Hindu rights organisation in holding a press conference here on Thursday.
The tense scene led to cancellation of the press conference but the organisation, which has been campaigning for a cow slaughter ban, announced hosting of a Gau Dhwaj (cow flag) to declare cow as “Mother of the Nation” in Shillong on October 2.
Earlier, Shillong Press Club witnessed heavy deployment of security since morning ahead of the press conference by Brahmachari Mukundanand, a representative of ‘Jagatguru Shandkaracharya’ Swami Avimukteshwarananda.
The police team positioned itself before the HYC arrived outside the Shillong Press Club premises to stage a protest against the organisation.
Asked by police, the HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem said they had no intention to create law and order problem but only wanted to “question” the objective of the Hindu rights organisation.
“We have watched them how they gave statements in Arunachal and Nagaland. Their intention is to bring a ban on cow slaughter and beef consumption. Here in Meghalaya, beef is something which we consume and they cannot come here and dictate what we eat. So, we want to understand their point of view,” he said.
He asserted that HYC won’t allow the organization to hold any rally in the state.
“Any plan to organise rally in Meghalaya, we won’t allow,” he said.
Hosting of Gau Dhwaj
Later, in a statement Yogiraj Shailendra said Swami Avimukteshwarandah will host the Gau Dhwaj in Shillong on October 2.
“We have asked multiple times for written permission to hold a press conference from the Press Club of Shillong but we haven’t received it yet,” he alleged.
Swami Avimukteshwarandah is scheduled to arrive in Shillong on October 1, preside over installation of Gau Dhwaj and address at Gau Mahasabha next day before moving to West Bengal.
“The goal of this Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra is to awaken cow devotees nationwide, unite them for a common cause – restoring the dignity and honour of the sacred cow, and conferring upon her the status of ‘Rashtra Mata’; and the motto is “Gau Mata, Rashtra Mata – Rashtra Mata, Bharat Mata,” it said.
The Yatra will start on September 22.
“Following the Yatra, a nationwide Gau Pratishtha Mahasammelan will be held on the occasion of Gopashtami in Delhi, on November 7, 8, and 9, which will decisively appeal to the Government of India to end the curse of cow slaughter and honour the cow as Rashtra Mata,” the statement said.
Press Club clarifies stand
Caught in the controversy over cancellation of a scheduled press meet by a Hindu rights body following a stand-off between HYC members and police, the Shillong Press Club on Thursday clarified that it was not the Club but the organiser who cancelled the event following the tense situation.
Members of Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) confronted police personnel standing guard at the Club where the press conference was convened by Bramachari Mukundanand, representative of ‘Jagatguru Shankaracharya’ Swami Avimukteshwaranda Saraswati.
Expressing concern over the situation, the SPC said, “Presence of police and NGO members has undermined the authority and integrity of SPC, to the extent that the Club has been blamed for cancellation of the proposed press conference.”
“SPC is an independent and neutral entity where every individual and group, irrespective of race, caste, creed, community, culture, and religion is welcome to hold a press conference on any issue (s),” it stated.
However, it also mentioned that the convener’s reported move was only an assumption as it was never mentioned in the letter sent to SPC, it said.
Ban cow protection ‘march’: TUR
The Thma U Rangli Juki on Thursday demanded a ban on the proposed cow protection march by ‘Jagatguru Shankaracharya’ Swami Avimukteshwarananda Saraswati in Shillong on October 2.
“(We) strongly condemn the communal call given by a Hindu seer, Jagatguru Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwarananda Saraswati, for the cow protection march or the ‘Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra in Shillong on October 2,” TUR leader Angela Rangad said in a statement.
“This yatra that calls for a nationwide ban on cow slaughter is a Hindu majoritarian communal attack on pluralist and secular culture of India and Meghalaya. Communities in Meghalaya savour all kinds of meat including beef and many indigenous communities even sacrifice cow for sacred reasons,” she said.
“TUR demands that the government should immediately ban the proposed cow protection as this would vitiate the pluralist and secular culture of Meghalaya,” she said.
The TUR leader also termed the proposed march and hoisting of Gau Dhwaj (cow flag) in Shillong is not about religious freedom but to establish dominance of fascist majoritarian culture in India.
TUR, meanwhile, called for a “peaceful picnic” to celebrate diverse food traditions including various cow meat/beef dishes, if the proposed rally is allowed to happen.
