Guwahati, Dec 17: Hindu organization Kutumba Surakshya Parishad (KSP) has called on the Meghalaya government to hold a meeting with all stakeholders regarding the reopening of the Mawjymbuin Cave for Hindu rituals. The group has set a deadline of December 23 for the meeting and to facilitate a visit to the site. Failure to meet their demands would result in a road blockade at Jorabat (near Guwahati) before Christmas, KSP warned.
“We request the Meghalaya government to arrange a meeting with all stakeholders related to Mawjymbuin Cave and facilitate our visit to the cave before December 23. If our demand is not met, we will stick to our plans, and the government will be solely responsible for any unwanted circumstances,” stated KSP President Satya Ranjan Borah during a press briefing on Tuesday.
Borah emphasized the cultural and religious importance of the cave, particularly the presence of a Shivling within it, which has long been revered by Hindu devotees. He underscored the group’s right to worship at the site, equating its significance to that of other sacred natural structures like the ‘Kedarnath Shivling’. He stated that the Mawjymbuin Cave is a natural structure, similar to the ‘Kedarnath Shivling’, and has been a place of worship for hundreds of years, long before Christianity was introduced in Meghalaya.
The KSP chief also sharply criticized Meghalaya Education Minister Rakkam A. Sangma for his recent comments, in which he had asked the group to respect local sentiments. Sangma had earlier remarked, “If we hold a church service near the Ram Mandir, it would not be well-received. Local issues and sentiments must be understood. If we advocate freedom of religion, we should practice what we preach.”
Borah dismissed Sangma’s comments as “immature and irresponsible” and questioned the minister’s definition of “local people.” He argued that Khasis, Jaintias, and Garos practicing Hinduism or other faiths are equally “locals” and accused Sangma of being biased. “Who are the local people he refers to? Are Khasis, Jaintias, and Garos who practice Hinduism or other faiths not considered locals? The minister exposed his limited understanding and anti-Hindu sentiment through his statement,” Borah claimed.
Borah further pointed out that a church had been constructed approximately 500 meters from the Mawjymbuin Cave in the early 1960s without facing any opposition from the Hindu community. “Hindus have always been peace-loving and cooperative. That is why the church was built near the cave without any objection. Yet, now there is opposition to Shivling worship. This highlights the stark difference between Sanatan Hindu philosophy and others,” Borah remarked.
He further invoked Article 51(A) of the Indian Constitution, which calls for citizens to preserve the country’s rich heritage, and argued that restricting worship at the cave violates this constitutional duty.
Reiterating the KSP’s commitment to respecting all communities and religions, Borah affirmed their resolve to protect Hindu cultural heritage. “We are peace-loving people, but we will not abide by unjust actions. We are fighting for our constitutional rights, our dignity, and the preservation of our heritage. We aim to contribute to national integrity and socio-cultural harmony,” Borah stated firmly.
