Cabinet minister Ampareen Lyngdoh is wary about the proposed rally to be undertaken by a cow protection group in Shillong on October 2 but has not outrightly called for it to be prohibited.
Lyngdoh today urged the cow activists not to disturb the culture, practice and traditions of Meghalaya.
Representatives of Jagatguru Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwarananda Saraswati of Jyotirmath want the cow declared as the “nation’s mother” and end cow slaughter and have been on a tour around the North East to publicise their aims. However, in Shillong last week they cancelled their press conference at the last moment after facing sharp criticism.
Speaking to reporters, Lyngdoh said that Meghalayans who travel to other states respect the traditions of those places and, in the same vein, those coming here should also respect local practices.
“You may have an opinion about something but if it is going to create unrest then I feel you have no business doing it and we have laws. The law will prevail and we cannot allow these political dramas to upset the peace of the people of Meghalaya,” she said.
Asked if the Meghalaya government will stop the yatra, Lyngdoh said that she is not a competent authority to respond to that but appealed to all concerned to kindly respect customs and practices of all people of India. “It is just an appeal and I request that we maintain this respect, which is mutual in nature so that India remains a vibrant democracy.”
She highlighted that Meghalaya is a state that respects all religions, pointing out that Monday was a holiday for Eid and Wednesday is another for Unitarian Day, so anyone “trying to upset” the peace here “has to be taken to task”.
Meanwhile, today the Khun Hynñiewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) went further by calling on the state government to ensure that the cow rally is “prevented by all means”.
