Cow prestige tour to Nagaland stops short at Dimapur airport

September 27, 2024 2 Views No Comment

• Swami stopped at airport terminal
• There was reportedly no drama

Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 27

The planned stopover of the Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra (Nationwide tour for raising cow flag) in Nagaland on September 26 stopped short at the Dimapur airport. Jagadguru Shankaracharya Maharaj and five other disciples were prevented from getting out of the airport terminal by state government officials.

The hired private plane, carrying the swami and his entourage, landed at around 12:20 pm and flew back out at 2:20 pm. Official sources said that the Deputy Commissioner of Police and Deputy Commissioner of Chümoukedima ushered the spiritual entourage to the VIP lounge, where some two hours of back and forth ensued beyond the glare of the media.

The entrance to the airport was secured by the police preventing journalists from accessing the passenger arrival area. Police officers posted at the entrance said that there was instruction from the top to disallow any news person from entering. It was only after the plane flew out that journalists were allowed in.

As per the official sources, the scene played out like this: The entourage was met at the arrival lounge and courteously ushered to the VIP lounge. At the VIP lounge, negotiation ensued, with the state officials reading out the government’s instruction prohibiting the planned cow flag hoisting programme. The wheelchair-bound swami was said to have expressed resentment, while demanding to know the reason for barring him from setting foot in Nagaland. The officials maintained that it was in the interest of communal harmony and avoiding creating a law and order situation in the state on account of the Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra. The sources maintained that there no use of force or coercion and that the talk was held in a cordial atmosphere.

The swami eventually relented but on the condition that he be allowed to send a video message to the Nagaland Chief Minister through the DC. This was acceded to, the message recorded and reportedly relayed to the CM. The entourage was then escorted to the departure lounge to board the chartered plane to Guwahati. It was 2:20 pm.

The Chümoukedima DC, Polan John, later told journalists that the swami was “initially a little agitated” but they were able to eventually come to an amicable end. According to John, he was let known of the state government decision prohibiting the religious tour in Nagaland. “There was no argument as such. He was explained the reason… of the state Cabinet taking a conscious decision. But after we explained everything, he also understood,” John said, while adding that he requested conveying a message to the people of Nagaland that he came not to create problems. The DC maintained that there was no hoisting of any flag.

It remained unexplained where they would have proceeded if they were allowed in. Earlier, before the chartered plane touched down, two private taxis (Toyoto Innova) were stopped by the police at the airport entrance. One of the drivers said that he was told to pick up some passengers at the airport. He could not say who rented the taxi.

Early on September 26, The Dimapur Police’ Commissionerate issued an order prohibiting the proposed Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra in Dimapur, Niuland and Chümoukedima on account of apprehension of disturbance to public order, and as per the provisions contained in Article 371 (A) of the Constitution of India.

The yatra is part of a larger Gau Pratishtha Andolan (movement for protecting and raising the prestige of the cow).