The All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU) has strongly condemned the planned arrival of Hindu leader Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati Ji Maharaj for the ‘Gau Dhwaj Yatra’ on September 26, 2024. The religious leader is set to land at Donyi Polo Airport, Holongi, as part of a campaign to declare the cow as the “Mother of the Nation” and to demand a central law banning cow slaughter.
AAPSU, in a strong statement, rejected the initiative, viewing it as an imposition on the food practices of the indigenous tribal communities in Arunachal Pradesh. “The cow is just an animal for us, not a mother. It is slaughtered every day, and beef is a staple food for many tribals. Such campaigns challenge our right to choose what we eat,” said AAPSU Finance Secretary Byabang Hapo Dui.
The union has announced a protest at Holongi airport starting at 6 a.m. on September 26, warning of potential unrest if the Gau Dhwaj Yatra proceeds. AAPSU also criticized the attempt to impose external beliefs on the region, which could provoke local sentiments and disrupt law and order.
