Jagadguru sets up Gau dhaj in Tripura after facing resistance in Arunachal, Nagaland and Meghalaya
Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, who was set to hold ‘Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra’ in Shillong on October 2, cancelled his programme after his chartered flight denied landing in Meghalaya and landed at the MBB Airport in Tripura on Saturday.
He set up a Gau dhwaj (cow flag) at Tulakona under the West District of Tripura today as part of his campaign. He strongly advocated for protection of cows by stopping cow slaughter.
Speaking to the media in Agartala, Saraswati termed cow as the symbol of God. He also said several ancient scriptures like the Vedas and Puranas etc highlighted the importance of the cow. Jagadguru also said, Lord Rama and Krishna were incarnated for Gaumata.
He lamented that even after 78 years of Independence, cow slaughter is continuing. Saying that over a hundred crore Hindus of the country are demanding protection of cows, Jagadguru demanded the Central Government to enact a law prohibiting cow slaughter.
After his Tulakona visit, Jagadguru departed for Guwahati.
Saraswati had earlier announced to hold the ‘Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra’ in different northeastern states demanding to declare the cow as the mother of the nation and to enact a Central law to prohibit cow slaughter.
His visits to the Northeastern states to hold Yatra programme sparked widespread protests.
Jagadguru Saraswati accompanied by his entourage was supposed to arrive at Shillong airport on Friday, but he rescheduled his Shillong tour on Saturday.
On Friday, hundreds of protestors from various organisations including the Khasi Students' Union (KSU), gathered outside the Shillong airport to prevent the seer and his entourage from moving out of the airport.
The District Magistrate of the East Khasi Hills district, in which Meghalaya's capital Shillong falls, promulgated prohibitory orders under Section 163 BNSS banning the assembly of five or more people in the district.
The District Magistrate R. M. Kurhah, in her order on Friday, said that it has come to the notice of the administration that some organisations are planning to organise a Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra in Shillong, though the organisers did not seek permission for holding the Yatra.
An AAI official of Shillong airport said that they have informed the seer about the Meghalaya government’s decision not to allow his chartered flight to land in Shillong airport at Umroi.
“The chartered flight of Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati landed at the Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport in Agartala on Saturday morning and after few hours, it went to Guwahati airport,” the official told IANS.
Earlier, Saraswati was turned back from the airports in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland on Thursday after he arrived at the two airports by chartered flight.
The spiritual leader, who arrived at Donyi Polo Airport in Hollongi in Arunachal Pradesh faced opposition from members of the All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU).
The seer, who was scheduled to address the Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra in Kohima on September 28, had to return from Dimapur airport on Thursday without fulfilling his planned programme as he was barred from leaving the airport.
The Nagaland government on September 11 announced that it would not allow the holding of ‘Gau Mahasabha’ and Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra in Kohima on September 28.
Leaders of various civil societies observed that beef has been part of Naga cuisine for many decades and the government and any other organisation cannot hurt the sentiment of the people and the state’s traditions.
The ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), its allies BJP and Naga Peoples’ Front (NPF), and various civil society organisations including the influential Naga Mothers’ Association and Naga Students’ Federation strongly opposed the holding of the ‘Gau Mahasabha’.
Nagaland and Meghalaya are Christian-majority states, and beef is one of the most common and popular meats consumed by people in several northeastern states.
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