BJP, Beef and Party
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: April 25 2015 -
The history of beef and identity politics in India with special reference to the Northeastern region has been quite thought provoking since the day Naga National Council (NNC) submitted a memorandum to the Simon Commission members sent to India in 1927 to examine British constitutional reforms.
The NNC while seeking separate independent homeland for Nagaland, the memorandum had also given an essential and primordial rationale for the claim based on Naga identity. The memorandum mentioned that the Nagas were looked “down upon” by the Hindus for “beef” and the Muslims for “our pork” and by both for “our want in education.”
With the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s comment on NDA’s efforts to bring in a legislation on countrywide ban on slaughter of cows, it comes as a little surprise that the recent maiden visit of BJP President Amit Shah to the predominantly Christian State of Meghalaya was marred by a bandh and a “beef party”.
Since the issue of banning cow slaughter drew emotive reactions and remained a very sensitive one, Shah while in Shillong kept himself restricted to talking about development of the Northeast.
What Shah and his party should have noted is the emotive content of raising the issue of banning cow slaughter can actually halt the Modi wave and even ruin the BJP chances of continuing its own brand of party by making forays into regions inhabited by people who are proud of their cultural roots including culinary traditions.
This is why when the BJP Chief visited Meghalaya’s capital, he was welcomed with a 12-hour bandh called by the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) and others who have noted the alleged atrocities on minorities by the Sangh Parivar and the proposed ban on cow slaughter.
If any observers have to view the “beef party” in Shillong, it can only be seen from the prism of understanding grand narratives on Indian Nationalism which had so far been propelled by cementing the culture of the majority as manifestation of true nationalism.
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