Shillong: The Jyotish Peethadheeshwar Shankaracharya Avimukteshwarandah, a prominent Hindu leader, is set to lead the ‘Gau Dhwaj’ event in Shillong on October 2, aimed at declaring the cow as the “Mother of the Nation.” The event is part of the Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra, which seeks to unite cow devotees across the country in a movement to protect and honor the cow.
A press conference to announce the event, scheduled for Thursday at the Shillong Press Club (SPC), was canceled by the Hindu group after the Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) staged a protest outside the venue.
Security was also heightened around the SPC premises to ensure law and order.
In response, the group’s representative, Yogiraj Shailendra, issued a statement explaining that the cancellation was due to the press club’s failure to grant written permission for the event. “We have asked multiple times for written permission to hold a press conference from the press club of Shillong, but we haven’t received it yet. Hence, we are unable to hold a press meet,” the statement read.
The statement also outlined the group’s upcoming plans, stating that Shankaracharya Avimukteshwarandah will arrive in Shillong on the evening of October 1. The next day, he will oversee the installation of the Gau Dhwaj and deliver an address at the Gau Mahasabha before continuing his journey to West Bengal.
The Gau Dhwaj Sthapana Bharat Yatra, which began on September 22, aims to raise awareness about cow protection and restore the cow’s honor by advocating for its recognition as “Rashtra Mata” (Mother of the Nation). The movement’s motto is “Gau Mata, Rashtra Mata – Rashtra Mata, Bharat Mata.”
Following this Yatra, a nationwide Gau Pratishtha Mahasammelan will be held in Delhi on November 7-9, coinciding with Gopashtami, where the group plans to appeal to the Government of India to end cow slaughter and formally declare the cow as Rashtra Mata.
