AAI urged not to let plane land at Umroi Airport; DC cracks whip on rally
SHILLONG, Sep 27: Apprehending trouble during the proposed visit of Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwarananda Saraswati Maharaj and his team in Shillong on Saturday, the Meghalaya government on Friday made it clear that it would not allow the rally and urged the Airports Authority of India (AAI) at the Umroi Airport to deny them permission for landing.
The decision was made after the Jagadguru Shankaracharya Maharaj National Media Coordinator had announced that the seer would arrive in a chartered plane at noon on Saturday to install the cow flag under the “Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra”, demanding that the central government declare cow as the “Mother of the Nation” and enact a law to stop cow slaughter.
After a high-level meeting here, Chief Secretary DP Wahlang told the media the state government received inputs that some elements will be trying to land at the Umroi Airport on Saturday and take out a rally in the name of protecting cows. He said the organisers have not taken permission for any rally.
“We received information that there is a likelihood of some elements trying to land at the Umroi airport tomorrow and taking out a rally in the name of protecting cow and ensuring that cow slaughter is banned in the country…They have not taken any permission for any rally or staging any protest. We have assessed the situation and to ensure that there is no escalation of law and order, we have decided to write to the AAI to deny them permission for landing,” the chief secretary said.
After assessing the situation, the East Khasi Hills district administration issued an order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), prohibiting the assembly of five or more people for any rally or procession within Shillong city limits, including the Shillong Urban Agglomeration.
The state government has decided to enhance security in the city to thwart the rally.
The chief secretary said there is no support from local stakeholders, including CPC, to the rally. He said as there could be some escalation on the law and order front, the government had to decide against the landing of the chartered flight.
The members of the Central Puja Committee (CPC), Shillong, who also attended the meeting, made it clear that they have nothing to do with the proposed rally and that they do not support any such rally.
CPC secretary JL Das said Navratri will start on October 2 and the CPC wants peaceful puja celebrations in Meghalaya. He also said that the CPC does not endorse the proposed rally.
On Thursday, the Shankaracharya and his team landed at the Donyi Polo airport in a chartered flight to go to the Arunachal Pradesh capital Itanagar for the yatra but they had to cut short their visit at the airport itself following protests by the students who alleged the yatra interfered with the food habits of the tribals of the state.
From Itanagar, the Shankaracharya flew to Dimapur Airport but was again denied entry by the Nagaland government over similar concerns.