Meghalaya: UDP urges "cow vigilantes" to respect indigenous faiths

Guwahati: Metbah Lyngdoh, president of the United Democratic Party (UDP), has appealed to cow vigilantes planning a rally in Shillong to respect the religious practices and faith of the indigenous people in Meghalaya.

The rally, scheduled for October 2, aims to advocate for cow protection and ban cow slaughter as part of the nationwide Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra movement.

Lyngdoh expressed concerns that the rally could lead to disturbances and urged the organizers to consider the potential impact on the state's diverse communities.

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Reportedly, the district administration has not confirmed whether the vigilante group has obtained the necessary permissions to hold the event in Shillong.

The Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra movement seeks to elevate the cow to the status of "Rashtra Mata" (National Mother), sparking debates on religious freedom and cultural sensitivity.

Meghalaya Cabinet Minister Comingone Ymbon earlier opposed the nationwide call to ban cow slaughter, stating that no individual or group should dictate the food habits of the state’s residents.

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Ymbon, who oversees Food and Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs, asserted that India’s secular nature guarantees freedom of choice in dietary preferences.

He said that beef is an integral part of Meghalaya’s cuisine, particularly in the Christian-majority state.

Prohibiting cow slaughter would have adverse economic consequences, affecting cow breeders who rely on the trade, he said.