People who proposes to hold Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra are not Indians but extremists: Rakkam

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 16, 2024

Cabinet minister Rakkam A Sangma on Monday said the people, who are proposing to hold the Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra to declare cow as mother of the nation, are not fit to be Indians but should be considered as “extremists”.

“I think they are not fit to be Indians. Those guys who are doing all these tamasha they are not fit to be Indians,” Rakkam told reporters while responding to a query on the proposed holding of the Yatra in Shillong on October 2.

The Yatra has evoked stiff opposition from almost all quarters in Meghalaya. Some have even threatened to hold a beef eating festival if the state government dares to grant permission to the Hindu organization – Jyotish Peethadheeshwar Shankaracharya Avimukteshwarandah.

The minister went on to assert, “These people should be kept somewhere in the jungle or they should have separate country to keep them. Who are they to stop somebody from eating beef?”

“Who are they? I think these people are illiterate. They know nothing about the constitution. These people do not know about the country, diversity of the cultures, the right to profess and practice any religion by choice. I think these people should be considered as “extremists” as they are not worthy to be Hindu people,” he added. 

Talking about how much he loves to eat beef, Rakkam said, “Who are they to advice not to eat anything and to eat something? For me nobody on earth who can stop me from eating any kind of food that I like. 

When it comes to beef, beef is one of my favourites…eating of beef should not be linked to any religion.”

Recalling a debate by late PA Sangma in the parliament way back 1987, the minister said, “Our tallest leader from the North East, late PA Sangma has defended stating killing of beef may hurt the sentiments of some religion or some community but not killing the beef/cow  also hurt the tribal sentiments, belief and practice as beef eating is part and parcel of tribal culture and festival.”

Asked, Rakkam said, “Forget about organizing beef festival we are always eating beef, almost everyday at home. Forget about festivals but eating of beaf is part of our culture and it is food culture. So whoever likes to eat must eat.”

Further, the minister claimed to know many Hindu friends, who are consuming beef.

“I have seen many of my Hindu friends eat beef nicely. Those people, labourers working at my house – I can name them also – they are Hindu but they eat beef,” he said while adding “There are also many Muslims who eats pork and also many Christians who never go to the church. So I think all these activities should not be linked to any religion be it Christian, be it Hindus, be it Muslims.

There are many Hindus, who never go to the temple, there are many muslims, who never goes to the mosque, there are many Christians, who don’t go to the church.”

“I think if you are a Hindu, be a serious Hindu, if you are a Christian be a pure Christian. We should preach what we practice, we should not preach which will hurt other sentiments, other community. We are (a country with) a democratic set up, which is wonderfully designed – so these kind of division among the citizens should not happened,” he stated further.