DIMAPUR, JULY 24 (MExN): The NSCN (IM) today questioned the reason behind the urgency to ban dog meat in the State “without taking into consideration the culture of the indigenous Naga people.”
“One cannot forget that India is a land of diverse characteristics encompassing language, religion, physical traits, cuisine (food habits), social habits, music and arts. One cannot also forget that Nagalim is under forced occupation of India. Nowhere the Nagas share something common with the mainland Indians. In as much as facial structure is different, so is the food habits,” a press release from the MIP of the NSCN (IM) stated.
The NSCN (IM) said this is not the first time that the Nagaland state government has gone far enough to ban food item in Nagaland. “Earlier, the state government tried to ban cow meat under the influence of Hindutva. Nagaland state government went for the unthinkable to ban dog meat just to please some political celebrities. But it would be far-fetched to imagine that the Naga food habit will change simply because the Cabinet has passed the order banning dog meat,” it added.
“Since time immemorial dog is bred for different purposes like hunting, pet, house guard and for food. These have become the cultural traits of the Nagas as far as keeping dogs is concern,” the NSCN (IM) claimed. Moreover, the right to eat anything as per one’s culture should not be put under restriction simply to satisfy the whims and fancy of somebody in power, it added.
While stating that Nagas are equally concerned on cruelty to any kind of animals, it however stated that “to force us to stop eating dog meat on the ground of cruelty to animal is not acceptable.”
“What about other animals or birds? What to eat and what not to eat is not anybody’s business to enforce or decide. This is against the natural freedom of choice of food,” it said.
It said that the Nagaland state government “cannot be so spineless to surrender everything to the Government of India without first taking its people into confidence.”
“Besides Nagalim, there are other dog meat eating nations like South Korea, China, arctic Antarctica, Nigeria, Vietnam and Switzerland,” it added.
The NSCN (IM) said Nagas must “fight off any kind of social, cultural, religious, political assimilation being pursued by India in different forms from the time of its forceful occupation of Nagalim and till today.”
“We should be proud of our ancestors who offered tough resistance to alien culture and the strong bond they shared with our culture, tradition and custom that differentiates the Nagas from the rest of the world as a unique and interesting entity. The day Naga people shy away from our past and fall short of embracing our glorious legacy we will become people without identity,” the NSCN (IM) added.
“We are proud of what we are, no matter what and no force on earth should try to change it for their vested interest,” it asserted.
The NSCN (IM) further stated that the history of India and Nagalim is “something not related in any respect.”
“The relation between India and Nagalim is a matter of forced occupation and political suppression. The Naga people will not accept intrusion into our cultural character. What belongs to the Naga culture must stay and what does not belong to the Naga culture should not be entertained so as not to pollute the Naga culture,” it said.
