The Meghalaya government has directed the Airports Authority of India to deny landing of a chartered flight carrying a cow protection group, who plans to hold a rally in the city to seek declaration of the cow as the ‘mother of the nation’ and a cow slaughter-free India.
The decision was taken at an urgent high-level meeting convened by Chief Secretary, Donald Phillips Wahlang today after reports suggested that a cow protection group will land at the Umroi airport on Saturday at 12 noon.
The meeting was attended by Director General of Police Iadashisha Nongrang, district authorities of both East Khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi and officials of the home department.
“We’ve taken the local stakeholders into consideration and after applying out minds collectively we have taken this decision to write to AAI,” Wahlang told reporters.
He said the government has also taken preventive measures to ensure security is not compromised.
Already the cow protection rally led by Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati has sparked backlash in the Northeast over anti-beef stance and communal harmony concerns.
The East Khasi Hills District Magistrate, Rosette M Kurbah said in an order that the group has not sought for any permission to hold the rally. Anticipating breakdown of law and order, Section 163 BNSS was clamped to prevent any group from holding a procession or rally.
Earlier, members of the Khasi Students Union, Hynñiewtrep Youths’ Council, Hynñiewtrep Integrated Territorial Organisation and leaders of the Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong of Ri Bhoi District, thronged the Umroi airport following reports that the cow protection group would land today.
KSU leader James Mawphniang and HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem said that they will not allow entry of the cow protection group to the State and said that their members will wait at the airport to prevent them from holding the rally.
“No one can dictate us to stop eating beef, which is part of our culture. The intention of this group is to create law and order problems in the state,” the pressure groups said.
Meanwhile, the Central Puja Committee (CPC) has said that it has not rendered any support to the cow protection group nor subscribes to the rally.
“October 2, is very important day for Puja celebrations and we want to have a peaceful puja in Meghalaya. We are not part of any group. As local stakeholder, we don’t endorse the idea of this yatra,” CPC general secretary, JL Das said.
The cow protection rally or the ‘Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra’ that commenced on September 22 and set to continue until October 26, is aimed at gaining support across the country for a total ban on cow slaughter, a demand often tied to religious sentiments within certain sections of Indian society.
Neighbouring states Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh have also denied permission for the rally, citing concerns of public disturbance and violation of Article 371(A) of the Constitution.
