By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 12: A protest by the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) against a press conference, reportedly intended to advocate a ban on beef in the state, made the authorities deploy police personnel outside the Shillong Press Club on Thursday.
Police officers equipped with anti-riot gear were stationed outside the club’s premises in the morning hours. The police said it was done to prevent any untoward incidents.
“We received information that a pressure group was coming to meet another party holding a press conference here,” said a police officer at the scene.
The deployment followed an announcement on September 9 by the representatives of Jagatguru Shankaracharya Ji Maharaj. They had planned to hold a press conference regarding the visit of Jagatguru Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwarananda Saraswati Ji Maharaj to Meghalaya on October 2.
Following the announcement, several pressure groups, including the HYC, speculated that the visit of Jagatguru Shankaracharya Ji Maharaj is part of an ongoing campaign to ban cow slaughter and beef consumption.
To confront Bramachari Mukundanand, a spokesperson for Jagatguru Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwarananda Saraswati Ji Maharaj, the leaders of the HYC arrived at the Shillong Press Club.
Opposing any such move, the HYC issued a strong statement, threatening to organise a “beef festival” in Shillong as a counter-measure if the government allows a rally.
“We will not allow anyone to impose such restrictions on our cultural practices. If they hold a rally, we will organise a beef festival on the streets of Shillong the same day,” HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem said.
Meanwhile, the press conference did not take place. According to Yogiraj Shailendra, a representative of the organisation, their team did not receive the official written permission from the Shillong Press Club on time.
“We asked multiple times for a written permission to hold a press conference at the Shillong Press Club but haven’t received it yet. Hence, we are unable to hold a press meet. We are extremely sorry for the inconvenience caused to the electronic and print media journalists of Shillong,” the organisation said.
In a press statement issued later, the organisation provided details of the Gau Pratishtha Andolan: Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra, which is scheduled to begin on September 22 and culminate on October 26. The goal of the Yatra is to declare the cow as the “Mother of the Nation”.
The Yatra, to be led by prominent figures in the Sanatan Dharma movement, will be taken out across state capitals, including Shillong, on October 2.
The statement emphasised that the movement, rooted in Sanatan Dharmic beliefs, seeks to enshrine cow protection as a national priority and move cow-related legislation from the state list to the central list.
The statement mentioned that on October 2, Shankaracharya Avimukteshwarananda Ji Maharaj will preside over the installation of a Gau Dhwaj in Shillong, advocating nationwide cow protection and slaughter bans.
It may be mentioned that the said organisation had also held press conferences in Arunachal Pradesh to advocate the ban on beef consumption.
In response to the confusion, the Shillong Press Club clarified, “The SPC is an independent and neutral entity. We do not discriminate against any group wishing to hold a press conference. The cancellation was due to the organisation’s decision, not because of any denial by the Club.”
The SPC further reiterated that no formal written permissions are ever issued for press conferences, as such matters are handled informally. The Club distanced itself from the perceived controversy, clarifying that the proposed rally mentioned by the HYC was never formally planned or communicated to the Club.