Kohima: The Nagaland government has announced that it will not permit the ‘Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra,’ a planned cow flag installation tour, due to widespread public opposition.
Nagaland minister Temjen Imna Along confirmed the decision on Wednesday, citing objections from civil society organizations, political parties, and the general public.
He said that the cabinet has taken into account the strong objections raised by various stakeholders and determined that allowing the yatra could compromise public order.
The government’s decision, he said, is aligned with Article 371-A of the Indian Constitution, which provides special protections for Nagaland, including the preservation of its religious and social practices, along with customary laws.
The planned event, which aimed to install a ‘Gau Dhwaj’ (cow flag) in Kohima on September 28, has stirred controversy in Nagaland, where a significant portion of the population consumes beef.
The yatra, led by Jagadguru Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Maharaj of Jyotirmath, seeks to declare India cow slaughter-free and elevate the cow to the status of ‘Rashtra Mata’ (Mother of the Nation).
Avimukteshwaranand is expected to arrive in Kohima on September 27 for the event, which would have marked the flag installation from 9 AM to 12 PM. Following the Kohima event, the yatra was scheduled to proceed to Imphal, Manipur.
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The Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra, a nationwide campaign covering all state and union territory capitals, started on September 22 and will culminate in Delhi on October 26. It aims to raise awareness about cow protection and unite cow devotees.
The movement has its origins in the 1966 Gau Raksha Andolan, which sought to end cow slaughter in India, and has been revived in recent years with the support of various Hindu religious leaders. A culmination event, the Gau Pratishtha Mahasammelan, is set for November 7 to 9 in Delhi, where a formal appeal will be made to the Government of India to enshrine the cow’s status as ‘Rashtra Mata’ and end cow slaughter.
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