Kuzholuzo (Azo) Nienu, MLA and Leader of the NPF Legislator Party, has expressed alarm and strong opposition to a cow slaughter ban program scheduled for September 28, 2024, in Kohima. The program, organized under the Gau Dhwaj Sthapna Bharat Yatra, aims to make India a cow slaughter-free country.
In a press statement, Nienu voiced his concern, stating, “I am alarmed and shocked to learn through a Press Release about a cow slaughter ban program… to make India cow slaughter-free.” He condemned the imposition of such bans, viewing it as an infringement on individual rights, particularly the right to food choice. “As a public leader, I felt duty-bound to protect the rights of my people,” he said, adding that the ban “tantamount to infringement of freedom of individual rights to choice of food.”
Nienu reiterated his opposition to the imposition of food choices on Nagaland, referencing a protest organized by the NPF in July 2017. “I would like to further reiterate my commitment to condemn imposition of food choice in Nagaland and recollect the Beef Festival Protest conducted in Kohima… in a predominantly beef-eating population in Nagaland,” he noted.
Further, Nienu criticized the hypocrisy of mainland Gau Rakshaks who advocate for cow protection while large-scale cow slaughter continues for export, particularly to the Middle East.
“The biggest beef-exporting companies are owned by Hindus,” he said, pointing to companies like Al-Kabeer Exports Pvt. Ltd., Arabian Exports Pvt. Ltd., M.K.R Frozen Food Exports Pvt. Ltd., and P.M.L Industries Pvt. Ltd., all led by Hindu businessmen.
India, Nienu emphasized, ranks fifth globally in meat production, with major contributions from states like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. He highlighted that many Hindu businessmen are among the largest beef suppliers in India.
Nienu also expressed solidarity with the Arunachal Students Union, which recently voiced its objection to similar impositions on food habits through the Gau Dhwaj Sthapna Bharat Yatra program.