New Delhi: A prominent seer and his entourage for the Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra were prevented from entering Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland on Thursday due to concerns over potential public unrest and protests against his campaign advocating a ban on cow slaughter in the northeastern states.
First Arunachal, then Nagaland denies entry to seer
Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati’s first destination was BJP-led Arunachal Pradesh, but local authorities stopped him at Donyi Polo Airport in Hollongi and requested that he return. After being denied entry, their chartered flight landed in Dimapur, Nagaland, where he faced a similar situation. Shankaracharya was asked to return to Guwahati after spending only a few minutes in the airport’s VIP lounge.
He was scheduled to launch the Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra, a movement aimed at declaring the cow as the mother of the nation and calling for a central law to prohibit cow slaughter. However, upon arrival at Dimapur Airport, he and his group were not allowed to exit the airport following an order from the state government, according to an official.
Article 371(A) of the Indian Constitution
“As per the state government order, Swami and his team were not permitted to leave the airport,” said Polan John, the Deputy Commissioner of Chumoukedima district, while talking to news agency PTI. “The team, which arrived at Dimapur Airport around 12.20pm from Itanagar after facing similar restrictions, was initially agitated at being unable to meet with the public. However, after discussions with state officials, they departed for Guwahati around 2.20pm,” the DC added.
Dimapur’s Commissioner of Police, Kevithuto Sophie, cited concerns over public order disruptions as the main reason for banning the yatra. The prohibition was enforced in the Dimapur, Chumoukedima, and Niuland districts based on directives from the state government and provisions of Article 371(A) of the Indian Constitution, which grants special privileges to Nagaland.
Following widespread objections, the state cabinet decided on September 11 not to grant permission for the proposed yatra, which was initially set to take place on September 28 in Kohima. “The cabinet did not approve the programme to maintain public order,” said government spokesperson and minister C L John.
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