Dimapur, July 28 (MExN): The Youth Association of Nagaland (YAN) today termed the recent Nagaland Government’s decision to ban dog meat in the state as “arbitrary and confusing.”
“While consumption of dog meat has always been part of our culture, it is amusing to note that many mainlanders have chided our people and culture,” stated YAN in a press release from its Media Cell.
“It is even more amusing to see that the Nagaland Government has hastily taken a decision to ban the sale and import of dog meat, both cooked and uncooked,” it added.
While stating that illegal trade may be banned, YAN however, pointed out that “the imposition to appease mainlanders is indeed arbitrary.”
It further noted that while not every household consumes dog meat, nevertheless its “consumption has very much been a part of our culture where dogs have been reared for various purposes, including consumption.”
In this connection, it asserted that the Government should have “endeavoured to protect this aspect of our culture by upholding Article 371 (A).”
“It is not that every Naga kills their pet dogs and eat them. This is a wrong picture portrayed to belittle Naga,” YAN stated.
The Government should study whether the decision to ban dog meat is “misleading the people both in Nagaland (Article 29(1) right to conserve our culture) as well as the people in mainland India (that every household in Nagaland consume dog meat),” it said.
Instead YAN questioned why Government is not addressing “the country and its people about our uniqueness, our culture, identity, as well as clarifying the misconception that is portrayed so that it would not develop as a tool of racism towards our brothers and sisters living outside the State, the Naga people and North East as a whole.”
Further maintaining that YAN is neither against any political party nor affiliated to any political party, the Association said that it would always “stand and fight for the rights of Nagas” and raising “out voice of public” so that it reaches the Government.
It further appealed the State Government to consult with the stakeholders before passing any decision that is in direct conflict with our customs and tradition.
