The Arunachal Indigenous Students’ Union (AISU) has voiced strong opposition to the upcoming “Gau Dhwaj Stapna Bharat Yatra” rally scheduled to be held in Itanagar on September 27, 2024. The rally, organized by Jagadguru Snakaraya Charaya, is aimed at promoting the inclusion of cow as the “Mother Nation” and addressing issues related to cow slaughter in India.
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Home Indigenous Affairs, PHE, WS, and IBA Arunachal Pradesh, the AISU has expressed concerns over the rally’s potential impact on indigenous cultural and religious practices. The union claims that the rally’s agenda is a retaliation against Pujar’s address at the Arunachal Press Club on September 7, 2024, where he advocated for the inclusion of cow as the Mother Nation and a ban on cow slaughter across India.
The AISU argues that cow plays a significant role in traditional and customary practices among indigenous communities in Arunachal Pradesh. According to them, the cow is integral to various rituals and festivals, including sacrificial rites performed by priests (Nyibu). The union asserts that such events are not only part of their cultural heritage but are also crucial to their social and religious practices.
The AISU has requested that the concerned authorities cancel the permission for the rally, stating that its proceedings could adversely affect the faith and cultural practices of the indigenous people of Arunachal Pradesh. They argue that the rally would undermine local traditions and disrupt the harmony of the indigenous communities.
