The Ao Baptist Arogo Mungdang (ABAM) and Chakhesang Baptist Church Council (CBCC) has condemned proposed ‘Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra’ programme to be held in Kohima on 28th September 2024.

In a statement, the ABAM said it is disheartened by the initiative of the Gau Pratishtha Andolan by Sanatan Dharm community which seeks to end cow slaughter and recognize the cow as “Rashtra Mata’ (Mother of the Nation).

“It is yet another attempt by desperate Hindu religious fanatics to indoctrinate veneration of Cow as part of Hindu Sanatana Dharma,” it stated. Condemning the proposed ban on cow meat, the ABAM said that the Gau Pratishtha Andolan intends “to enforce total vegetarianism or Brahminization or Hinduisation of the entire nation”.

“Such strong, aggressive and offensive understanding of religion can function in isolation as their spiritual vision fails to grasp the commonality of life beyond all human-made differences,” it stated.

Further, the ABAM President Rev. Dr. L. Lima Jamir and Executive Secretary, Rev. Dr. Prof., Mar Pongener urged Christians not to be deceived by beliefs that abstaining from eating cow meat makes one “Holy” and reminded that only God, through Jesus can impart “Holiness.”

Meanwhile, the Chakhesang Baptist Church Council (CBCC) has appealed to all its pastors, pastoral staff, board of deacons, head of departments and members to remain vigilant and see that none of the church members under CBCC is a part of organizing, supporting, or participating in the ‘Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra’ programme. “We must all stand firm together against the religious subjugation and cultural invasion by the Hindu fanatics,” it stated.

Chekrovei Cho-o, Executive Secretary, CBCC, said that the proposed event is disturbing and while acknowledging that India is a secular country where all religion has the right to propagate its belief, such “blanket imposition of one’s belief on others in the form of a religious movement is extremely wrong and unacceptable.”

Calling for a stiff opposition against the religious subjugation and cultural invasion by the Hindu fanatics, the CBCC said that such movement “will not only suppress our Christian faith but also deeply disturb the social fabric of the people in Nagaland.”

The CBCC has further cautioned that any member found involving in this “anti-Christian movement” will be liable to face disciplinary action.