Nagaland including state unit of BJP objects to cow protection march
Nagaland became the 16th state in 1963 with a promise to protect the social practices of its people, for whom beef is a staple, leaders say
The party observed that Nagaland became a state in 1963 under constitutional provisions safeguarding the social practices of its people, called the Nagas.
In a statement, BJP Nagaland president Benjamin Yepthomi said the government of Nagaland should uphold the special provisions of the constitution. Two state legislators belonging to the Baptist Church also opposed the proposed event.
Kuzholuzo Azo Nienu of Nagaland People's Front (NPF) expressed "shock" at the announcement of such an event in Nagaland, where beef is a staple for most Naga people. The march would be “tantamount to infringement on freedom of individual rights to choice of food.”
In 2017, the NPF organized a “beef festival" in the state capital, Kohima, to protest the move to ban cow slaughter. Lawmaker Imkong L. Imchen from the BJP said the proposed march will not aid the cause of the right-wing party in Nagaland.
“Beef is the most delicious food for the Nagas,” he told UCA News. As many as 20 Indian states have laws regulating the act of slaughtering cows.
Leaders of religious minorities, such as Christians and Muslims, say cow vigilante groups have stepped up violence after Modi came to power in 2014.
Blogger in Nagaland
‘Cow Flag Yatra’ aimed at banning cow slaughter opposed in Nagaland
New Delhi
Hindu religious leader Jagadguru Shankaracharya, Avimukteshwaranand Maharaj, of Jyotirmath is scheduled to arrive Christian-stronghold Nagaland state on September 27 to preside over the launching of 'Gau Dhwaj Yatra (Cow Protection March) and deliver an address on September 28.
Organisers said that the Yatra team would later proceed to the neighbouring state ofManipur.
But the show at Nagaland's administrative capital Kohima has been now steadfastly opposed.
The state's ruling provincial party the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), which has alliance with the BJP both in Nagaland and at the national level, in a statement urged the organisers "to reconsider the proposal" so that the "socio-religious harmony and brotherhood is not disturbed".
The NDPP media cell reiterated the party's secular and democratic credentials while emphasising its commitment to protecting the rights and sentiments of the Naga people as "enshrined in the Constitution of India".
Nagaland was given statehood (autonomy in administration) in 1963 under the provisions of Article 371 (A).
The same Article safeguards the religious and social practices of the Nagas. The NDPP noted that the Nagaland Legislative Assembly and the state government have already decided earlier not to implement the “Ban on Cow Slaughter Act, 2019".
It expressed concern that the proposed Yatra could disrupt the socio-religious harmony in the state.though it said the party is committed to respect all religious practices.
"To organise such an event would go against the sentiment of the majority of the peopleof the state...," it said.
Two state legislators including one from the pro-Hindu BJP have also opposed the programme.
The NPF holds the distinction of holding a “beef festival protest” in Kohima in July 2017, which highlighted the local resistance to any imposition on food preferences.
BJP lawmaker Imkong L Imchen said the programme would actually hert the political interests of thesaffron party.
Beef is the most delicious food item for Nagas and shall continue even in future, he told UCA News.
He also maintained that beef is a nutritious food item and often even doctors prescribe Nagas to take the cow/ox meat. Of course, both the members of the legislative assembly are Baptist Christians.
The issue of eating beef in India is controversial and complex due to the cow's sacred status in many religions, and the laws governing cattle slaughter vary from state to state.
The Supreme Court in 2005 upheld the constitutionality of anti-cow slaughter laws.Of course the war on beef has intensified since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist government came to power in 2014.
On 26th October 2005, the Supreme Court of India, in a landmark judgement, upheld the constitutional validity of anti-cow slaughter laws enacted by various state governments of India
Several beef traders and consumers, especially Muslims have been attacked and killed from time to timeby Hindu vigilante cow protection groups.
In 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the rise in deadly mob attacks on cattle traders, beef-eaters and dairy farmers.Cows are considered sacred by many members of India’s Hindu majority, and slaughtering cows is illegal or restricted across much of the country.
As per existing meat export policy in India, the export of beef (meat of cow, oxen and calf) is prohibited.
As many as 20 out of 28 provinces/states in India have separate laws regulating the act of slaughtering cows, prohibiting the sale of cows as well.
Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Kerala, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, West Bengal, Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu and Puducherry, are the states/places where there are no restrictions on cow slaughter.
In May 2016, the Bombay High Court gave the judgement that consumption or possession of beef is legal under Article 21 of Constitution of India, but upheld the ban on cow slaughter.
ends
No comments:
Post a Comment