Kohima, September 10 (MExN): The Naga People’s Front (NPF) today expressed its appall at the proposed “Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra,” set to begin nationwide on September 22, as well as a related event scheduled for September 28 in Kohima. The party condemned it as a pre-meditated tactic to disrupt the peaceful coexistence of religions in India.
According to the NPF, the movement aims to awaken “cow devotees nationwide, unite them for a common cause – restoring the dignity and honour of the cow, and conferring upon her the status of Rashtra Mata (National Mother).”
The NPF, as a political party with a deep commitment to secularism, asserted that it does not endorse the imposition of restrictions on any citizen regarding their beliefs, faith, religion, or food habits, it said.
“We respect all religions and their freedom to practice and worship in their own way,” it stated.
Moreover, the NPF noted that in Nagaland, cows are treated as just one of many domesticated animals, such as Mithun (Bos frontalis), buffalo, pigs, and dogs.
“Even before converting to Christianity, none of the Nagas were Hindus, contrary to the claims of a few Hindu fanatics who are trying to label all other faiths as former Hindus under the codename Sanātanī,” it highlighted.
“The Nagas are not naive and shall never succumb to the pressure tactics of these Hindu fanatics,” the NPF added.
Thus, the the party termed the proposed Yatra as a “pre-meditated tactic to disturb the peaceful coexistence among various religions in India and further their agenda of making India a Hindu Rashtra.”
Stating tat India is a nation of diverse cultures, with differences in language, lifestyle, and customs from north to south and east to west, and this diversity is the nation’s strength, the NPR asserted that imposition of one’s religion on others will create disunity and disharmony.
“To be clear, we are not going to make the cow our mother!” the NPF asserted.
The NPF also called on the citizens of Nagaland to critically evaluate the “credulous beliefs of these Gaubhakt fanatics” and to resist such uncivilised activities that interfere with the religious practices and beliefs of others.
Any attempt by individuals or groups to declare the cow as the “Mother of the nation” challenges the very essence of India, where harmony is maintained through tolerance of all religions, it added.
