Beef is the most delicious food for the Nagas, says Imkong L. Imchen, a BJP legislator
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI — A political storm is brewing in Nagaland, a predominantly Christian state in the northeast, over the planned cow protection march — Gau Dhwaj Yatra — scheduled for September 28, organised by hardcore Hindu groups. The event has triggered fierce opposition from various political leaders, civil society organisations, and religious groups, all concerned about potential disruption to the state’s fragile social harmony.
The controversy highlights a deeper issue within India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP): its duplicitous behaviour regarding cow protection. Critics accuse the BJP of using cow-related issues selectively, enforcing strict laws in northern states such as Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, where Muslims and Dalits have faced violent attacks, while conveniently avoiding the subject in states like Nagaland, where beef is an integral part of local culture. This inconsistency has prompted public outrage and drawn attention to the BJP’s opportunistic politics.
Nagaland’s political leadership is largely unified in opposing the Gau Dhwaj Yatra. The ruling Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), which leads the state government in coalition with the BJP, has made it clear that the event goes against the sentiments of the majority of Nagaland’s 1.97 million people, 88% of whom are Christians.
“The march would disturb the social fabric and harmony in our state,” stated an NDPP spokesperson, referencing Article 371A of the Indian Constitution, which grants Nagaland special protection over its social and religious practices. This provision, established when Nagaland became a state in 1963, safeguards the consumption of beef, which is a cultural staple in the region.
Even the BJP’s Nagaland chapter has distanced itself from the march, with BJP Nagaland President Benjamin Yepthomi stating, “Any attempt to impose regulations that contradict the religious and social practices of the Naga people is a direct infringement on the rights guaranteed to the people of Nagaland.”
Widespread Opposition
The opposition is not confined to the political realm. Naga Mothers’ Association and Naga Students’ Federation have both condemned the proposed march. Neikyielie Khatsü, president of the Naga Mothers’ Association, remarked, “Beef has been part of the Naga diet for generations, and any move to ban its consumption would deeply hurt our people’s sentiments.”
In 2017, when similar cow slaughter bans were raised, the Nagaland People’s Front (NPF) organised a “beef festival” in Kohima as a form of protest. Reflecting on the current situation, Kuzholuzo Azo Nienu, a senior NPF leader, commented, “The cow protection march would infringe upon the personal rights of individuals to choose their food.”
Even within the BJP’s ranks, there is discontent. Imkong L. Imchen, a BJP legislator, warned that the march would create unnecessary tensions. In an interview with UCA News, he said: “Beef is the most delicious food for the Nagas.”
Cultural Clash
The proposed Gau Dhwaj Yatra stems from the BJP’s long-standing effort to promote cow protection as a central part of its Hindutva agenda. Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Maharaj, one of the organisers, aims to campaign for a nationwide ban on cow slaughter. In many northern states, stringent laws have been enacted to restrict cow slaughter, leading to a surge in cow vigilantism, particularly targeting Muslims and Dalits.
A report by Scroll.in highlights that 20 of India’s 28 states currently have laws regulating or banning cow slaughter. However, in culturally diverse states like Nagaland, where beef is a key part of the local diet, such laws are viewed as an imposition of one community’s beliefs over others.
The Nagaland Baptist Church Council, the largest Christian denomination in the state, has also voiced its opposition to the march. Two legislators who belong to the Baptist Church issued a joint statement warning that the event would threaten the peaceful coexistence between communities.
The BJP’s Hypocrisy
While Nagaland’s leaders, civil society, and religious organisations are unified in their opposition to the Gau Dhwaj Yatra, attention is turning toward the BJP’s selective cow politics. In states like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, the BJP has positioned itself as a staunch defender of Hindu values, advocating for cow protection at the cost of communal harmony. This has led to numerous instances of cow vigilantism, with Muslims and Dalits often bearing the brunt of violent attacks, and accused of cow slaughter or beef consumption without evidence.
One notable incident occurred in 2015 when Mohammad Akhlaq, a Muslim man from Dadri, Uttar Pradesh, was lynched by a mob over rumours that he had stored beef in his home. Since then, reports of such attacks have escalated, with cow protection groups feeling emboldened under the BJP rule.
Despite this aggressive cow protection stance in the north, the BJP has remained notably silent on the issue in Nagaland. In fact, the BJP’s state unit has gone so far as to oppose the Gau Dhwaj Yatra, citing the importance of respecting local traditions. This contradiction has led many to accuse the BJP of political opportunism, using cow protection as a tool to incite religious tensions in states where it benefits them electorally while abandoning the issue in states where it could harm their prospects.
The Deccan Herald reported on the rising frustration among political observers and activists over this double standard. Critics argue that the BJP’s cow protection policies are less about religious belief and more about exploiting Hindu-Muslim tensions to consolidate votes.
The BJP’s selective application of cow protection laws has had devastating consequences for Muslims and Dalits. In Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and other states, these communities have become targets of mob violence, often accused of consuming or trading in beef without any proof. The BJP’s rhetoric around cow protection has emboldened extremist groups, leading to an atmosphere of fear and insecurity among minorities.
The Deccan Herald reported that since 2014, when the BJP came to power at the national level, instances of cow-related violence have skyrocketed, with most victims belonging to marginalised communities. Families have been torn apart, livelihoods destroyed, and communities left traumatised by the violence.
In stark contrast, Nagaland’s BJP leadership has openly opposed the imposition of cow protection measures in the state, revealing the party’s hypocrisy. As the state’s Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio remarked, “The BJP’s commitment to cow protection seems to vary depending on which state they’re in.”
Political Ramifications
Nagaland’s refusal to allow the Gau Dhwaj Yatra has sparked a wider debate about the role of religion in public policy. In a country as diverse as India, critics argue that imposing one community’s dietary practices on others threatens the country’s social fabric.
“The Gau Dhwaj Yatra is not just about cow protection,” said a spokesperson for the Naga Students’ Federation. “It’s about whether we, as a nation, respect the cultural and religious differences of all communities, or whether we allow a single narrative to dominate.”
As the debate unfolds, attention will remain on the BJP’s selective politics and the impact it has on the country’s pluralistic society.
