Hours before a scheduled press conference by a Hindu group on its plan to campaign against cow slaughter, Meghalaya police stepped up security outside the Shillong Press Club as members of the Hynñiewtrep Youth Council (HYC) gathered to protest there.
The Bramachari Mukundanand, representative of Jagatguru Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwarananda Saraswati of Jyotirmath, had scheduled a press conference at 1 pm today on the ‘Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra’.
The yatra is to promote nationwide ban on cow slaughter and is scheduled to begin from September 22 to October 26. It is learnt that the group will host the yatra to declare “Cow as Mother of the Nation” in Shillong on October 2.
However, the press conference was cancelled at the eleventh hour.
The cancellation was announced by SPC president, Deimaia L Siangshai as the leader who was supposed to address the press conference has not arrived.
HYC president, Roy Kupar Synrem told reporters that their intention was to question the objective of the group. He said the group had been to Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland with the motive to hold a rally against cow slaughter.
“The intention of these people to come to the press club is to announce the date of the rally. So we want to ask them what their intention is and why they have come to Meghalaya when they know that the majority of the people consume beef and we don’t regard cows or dogs as our mother or sisters,” he said.
Synrem said the HYC wants to send a clear message that such a rally will not be allowed. “We eat what we want. We don’t dictate terms on you so don’t dictate terms on us,” he added.
The HYC leader also wants the State government not to grant permission to hold the rally as it will create disharmony among the various communities and religions in the State.
“We don’t want these people from outside to come and sow the seed of hatred in Meghalaya. If you want to take this message (cow slaughter ban) you can do so in other states. If the Meghalaya government allows the rally, we will also hold a beef eating festival on the streets of Shillong,” Synrem warned.
