In the wake of widespread objection to the proposed “Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra” programme to be held in Kohima, Nagaland on 28th September 2024, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Nagaland State has said today that India’s diversity is its greatest strengths and stressed that “this diversity should be celebrated, not curtailed”.

Expressing its concern that such impositions risk creating divisions and may undermine the social harmony with people of different communities and faiths, it urged the organisers of the campaign to reconsider holding its event in the State.

While clarifying that the “Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra”, which seeks nationwide ban on cow slaughter, has nothing to do with the BJP, the Party emphasized that its opposition to the “Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra” program is not an attack on any particular faith or belief system but rather a call for mutual respect and understanding.

The BJP has also appealed to the Government of Nagaland to uphold the provisions of Article 371 A and protect the rights and traditions of the Naga people, stating that any attempt “to impose regulations that contradict with the religious and social practices, especially in matters of food, is a direct infringement on the rights guaranteed to the people of Nagaland.”

Highlighting that beef is an integral part of the Naga cuisine and has been part of our cultural practices and traditional festivals since time immemorial, the BJP said that to impose restrictions on its consumption “would deeply affect the cultural identity and daily lives of our people besides grievously hurting our sentiments”.

The BJP Nagaland has also appeal to all concerned parties “to ensure that no actions are taken which could harm the longstanding peace and unity within our society.”