HNLC asks all Hindus in Meghalaya to resist the cow yatra from entering the state

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 29, 2024

The proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) on Sunday called upon all Hindus in Meghalaya to resist the “Cow Yatra” from entering the state.

“It is the duty of all Hindus in Meghalaya to resist the Cow Yatra from entering our land with the intention of organizing rallies or any form of indoctrination against the local populace. The HNLC and the people of our community will not tolerate interference in our cultural dietary choices,” HNLC general secretary cum publicity secretary Sainkupar Nongtraw said in a statement.

He also warned, “If the Cow Protection Group dares to challenge the people of our region, the HNLC will not allow Hindus to celebrate puja until they retract their efforts to convince our community that animals hold greater significance than humans. The bovine mindset must be eradicated first, or they will face the repercussions,”

“Any religious group that is more concerned about animals than human beings is akin to animals themselves,” Nongtraw also remarked.

The HNLC leader also referred to the dramatic turn of events when the cow protection group’s bold declaration echoed across Meghalaya: “In other states, we could only hoist the flag at 21 feet, but in Meghalaya, you gave us the opportunity to hoist the flag at 21,000 feet.”

“This audacious claim is nothing but a blatant provocation that challenges the Meghalaya government and ignites a fierce spark among the local inhabitants. Such brazen words stand as a deliberate taunt to the community, escalating tensions to new, dangerous heights,” he stated.

Nongtraw also said that the objections faced by the Cow Protection Group regarding holding a rally in the Northeast region signify heightened tension within the community adding “The HNLC’s appeal to countries like America, China, Pakistan, and others to intervene in India before it potentially veers towards becoming a theocracy sheds light on the severity of the situation.”

He further stated that the proposed rallies by the Cow Protection Group raise concerns, especially in light of the increasing incidents of cow vigilantism resulting in tragic outcomes for individuals suspected of beef-related activities.

“The fear that Meghalaya might experience the cow vigilantism seen in regions like Uttar Pradesh and Haryana underscores the urgency of promptly addressing this issue,” he said while also adding that cow vigilante violence in India entails mob-based attacks mainly perpetrated by Hindu nationalists against non-Hindus, predominantly Muslims, under the pretext of safeguarding sacred cows in Hinduism.

Quoting the Reuters report, Nongtraw said a total of 63 such attacks were documented between 2010 and mid-2017, resulting in 28 fatalities and 124 injuries, with a notable escalation in incidents following Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking office in 2014.

He said that the grassroots protests in the Northeast region against the Cow Protection Group highlight the community’s strong opposition to such provocative actions. It is troubling to witness resources being disproportionately allocated to cows in a country grappling with poverty and healthcare challenges. This skewed prioritization further emphasizes the controversial ideology guiding the Cow Protection Group and the potential implications for social cohesion in Meghalaya.

Further, the HNLC leader said that the people of Hynñiewtrep and the northeastern region must understand that the oppressor in our midst is not defined by religious beliefs such as Muslim, Christian, or Sikh, but rather by those who subscribe to Hinduism. It is the Hindu oppressor who wields control over the system, be it constitutionally, politically, economically, or in other ways. Their aim is to mold all indigenous communities in their own likeness, imposing their religious, cultural, and social norms upon others. It is imperative that we resist this Hindu supremacy, lest we fall prey to Hindutva and suffer a fate similar to the Jews at the hands of Aryan Nazism, he added further.