DIMPAUR: A seer and his Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra entourage were stopped Thursday from entering Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland following fears of possible public unrest and protests against his campaign advocating a ban on cow slaughter across the northeastern states.
Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati's first stop was BJP-governed Arunachal, but local authorities halted him at Donyi Polo airport in Hollongi and requested him to return. After being denied entry, their chartered aircraft landed in Nagaland's Dimapur, where he faced the same reception. Shankaracharya was asked to return to Guwahati after spending a few minutes at the airport's VIP lounge.
Permission was denied for the yatra scheduled for Sept 28 in Kohima. Though initially agitated and seeking an explanation for why they couldn't proceed, Shankaracharya was informed that the decision was made at the cabinet level and administration was merely implementing it. BJP is part of the alliance govt in Nagaland.
"We were directed not to let them leave the airport," Chumoukedima district DC Polan John said. Dimapur police commissioner Kevithuto Sophie cited state govt's directive dated Sept 12. "There were concerns about potential disturbances to public order due to the yatra. Prohibition is also reinforced by provisions of Article 371(A) of the Constitution, which provides special safeguards to Nagaland, particularly on matters related to religious and social practices," Sophie said.
Earlier in the day, Naga Students' Federation opposed the yatra in Kohima, warning of protests.
(With inputs from agencies)
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