The Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) has urged the organisers of the ‘Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra’ to reconsider its proposal to conduct a program in Kohima, Nagaland on 28th September 2024 to promote the ban on cow slaughter.
At the same time, the Party has appealed to the Nagaland Government “to intervene at the earliest so that the prevalent socio-religious harmony and brotherhood is not disturbed.”
In the press release issued by the NDPP Media & Communication Committee, the Party stated that as a regional political party representing the people of Nagaland, protecting the rights, privileges and sentiments of the people of the State is the NDPP’s foremost priority. It also reminded of the decision of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) and the Government of Nagaland not to implement the “Ban on Cow Slaughter Act 2019” based on the constitutional provisions of Article 371A.
“Today, while the decision of the NLA and the Government still stands, a program organized to promote the ban on cow slaughter may hurt the sentiments of the Naga people and may also affect the socio-religious harmony prevailing in the State,” the Party expressed.
While affirming that the NDPP respects the social and religious beliefs of each and every citizen of this diverse Nation we belong to, it also stated that it expects that the religious and social practices of the Naga people must also be similarly respected by others. The Republic of India has always upheld the freedom of its States and her people in deciding to enact laws and legislations as per their needs and requirements; and today, it is because of this freedom that the majority of the North-Eastern States along with Kerela and West Bengal have decided not to implement and enact the Act of 2019, it added.
The NDPP said that in such a scenario, “to organize such an event would go against the sentiments of the majority of the people of the State and will also be undermining the powers conferred upon the State Legislature and the State Government by the Constitution of India.”
Read more: Movement for ban of cow slaughter in India to reach Kohima on 28th Sep
