SHILLONG, Sept 17: Meghalaya Education Minister Rakkam A Sangma has been vocal against those proposing to hold a Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra in Shillong to declare the cow as mother of the nation, terming them as “extremists, unfit to be Indians, and left abandoned in a jungle.”
“Those guys who are doing all this tamasha are not fit to be Indians,” said the minister on Monday, while responding to queries on the proposed holding of the Yatra in Shillong on October 2.
Opposition to the Yatra has been building up across the state with some groups in the state threatening to counter the yatra by holding a beef eating festival on that scheduled date should the state government go ahead and grant permission to the Hindu organization – Jyotish Peethadheeshwar Shankaracharya Avimukteshwarandah.
Annoyed at those pushing for the yatra, he termed them as “People who should be kept somewhere in the jungle or a separate country. Who are they to stop somebody from eating beef?”
Terming them as “illiterate”, the education minister ridiculed them for their ignorance about the country’s constitution. “These people do not know our country, cultural diversity, or even the right to profess and practice any religion by choice. I think these people should be considered as “extremists” as they are not worthy to be Hindu people,” he added.
Endorsing beef eating as one’s right in a tribal society, especially in Meghalaya, Rakkam spoke of his love for beef delicacy.
“Nobody can stop me from eating any kind of food that I like. Beef is one of my favourites…eating beef should not be linked to any religion,” boldly said the minister.
Advising those making a noise about beef consumption, the minister asked them to flip through the pages of recent history, particularly the debate on beef when the Late P A Sangma cut to size all those attempting to tamper with the ways of the tribals.
“Way back in 1987 in Parliament, our tallest leader from the North East, late P A Sangma, defended our tribal way of life. He spoke in Parliament and pointed out that while the killing of cows may hurt the sentiments of some religion or community, likewise, by preventing the killing of the cow for beef would also hurt the tribal sentiments, belief and practice as beef eating is part and parcel of tribal culture and festival.”
To those keen to counter the yatra with a beef festival, he sought reasoning. “Forget about organizing beef festivals, we are always eating beef, almost every day at home. Beef eating is our food culture. So whoever likes to eat must eat.”
Taunting those claiming “purity” and abstinence from meat consumption, particularly beef, the education minister claimed to know several Hindu friends who consume beef.
“I have seen many of my Hindu friends eating beef. Even labourers working in my house are Hindus and eat beef,” he mentioned.
Asking people not to be judgemental, Rakkam said, “There are also many Muslims who eat pork and even many Christians who never go to church. So, all these activities shouldn’t be linked to any religion, be it Christian, Hindus or Muslim. There are many Hindus, who never go to the temple, there are many muslims, who never goes to the mosque, there are many Christians, who don’t go to the church.”
“I think if you are a Hindu, be a serious Hindu, if you are a Christian be a pure Christian. We should preach what we practice, we should not preach which will hurt other sentiments, other communities. We are (a country with) a democratic set up, which is wonderfully designed – so this kind of division among the citizens should not happen,” he appealed.
