Political Diary
New Delhi, 24 January 2023
Holy Cow!
REAPING POLITICAL BENEFITS?
By
Poonam I Kaushish
“Gau mata” is once again being relished by our
Hindutva brigade whereby protection of the holy cow has become de rigueur in nearly 20 States. The
latest to rediscover its brand was the Principal District Judge in Gujarat’s Tapi
averring, “All problems of Earth will be solved if cow slaughter is stopped,” while
sentencing a man to life imprisonment and fine of Rs five lakh for illegally
transporting 16 cattle.
Expressing dissatisfaction over all talk surrounding cow
protection which has not been put into practice, he added, “Cow is the living
planet of 68 crore holy places and 33 crore gods….'gaumutra' cures many incurable diseases….and houses
made of cow dung are not affected by atomic radiation… if cows are kept
unhappy then our wealth and property disappears.”
Echoing a Rajasthan High Court judge’s statement declaring
cow as a national animal and prescribed life-term for killing the animal on a
petition by a NGO about the death of about 500 cattle in the shelter near
Jaipur and the pitiable condition of cattle elsewhere. Heading the "voice
of his soul", he also listed out the virtues of Gau Mata and why it needed to be protected.
Perhaps, judges seem to be following in politicians
footsteps. Asserted UP Cabinet Minister, “cow,
Ganga and Gita’ are the identity of India and
it’s a world leader,” recently. Added controversial BJP MP Pragya Thakur
drinking cow urine cures lung infection from Covid and mixed with other cow
products cured her cancer. An UP MLA
seconded her claim. Recall, ex-Prime Minister Morarji Desai was a great
proponent of cow urine.
Recently, West Bengal BJP Chief stirred a hornet’s nest as
he taunted beef eaters, “Why only cows, eat dog meat too…Our desi cows have gold mixed in their
milkand if we drink it we will become healthy and can prevent diseases…. foreign
cows are not our Gau Mata they are
our aunties, janwar.”
Pertinently, gau mata
is not so much about the fate of the holy cow as it is about cynical political
competitive politics which has for long held the
collective imagination of politicians. Having re-discovered cow’s brand
equity as a good vote-catcher among the majority community, the Saffron Sangh
including BJP ably sponsored and pushed by Saffron-robed Ministers, netas and swamis has adroitly woven the bovine into its development tapestry upping
the ante by making it the cause célèbre
for their and the Party’s ambitious needs, a panacea to consolidate Hindu votes
and milk it.
Today, it enjoys pride of place in its long-term strategy. More
so, after Prime Minister Modi asserted, “Some people, the moment the words Gai and Om fall on their ears, their hair stands on end….. They think the
country has gone back to 16th and 17th centuries ……It is people with such views
who leave no stone unturned to destroy the country”, at the National Animal
Disease Control Programme launch in Mathura 2019.
Disconcertingly, gau rakshaks have taken the cue from
their political mai-baap BJP and Modi-speak which is the
driving force behind the spread and hardening of cow rights legislation across
the country. Whereby, cow lovers coo that ban to protect the cow is justified
and should be seen as a legal offense and not religious. Adding, it would be
nice if minorities respect the sentiments of Hindus who consider cow slaughter
as a sin.
However, not a few read this as a signal to continue minority
bashing under the garb of cow protection, whereby, any action taken to protect
the cow is justified, even if it means taking law into their hands. The last
few years stand testimony to horrific lynching and killing in UP’s Bulandshahr and
Dadri, Haryana’s Ballabhgarh and Gujarat’s Una etc. The charges? Beef eating,
killing a cow, carrying beef etc.
Undeniably, the idea of cow has crowded out all else.
Wherein cow-centredness --- politics, society, morality, science, economics,
livelihoods and the lack of them are all focused on the revered bovine. Four
examples: BJP-ruled UP has budgeted Rs 600 crores for protection and welfare of
cattle and cow shelters, has started an ambulance service for cows and a Rs 750
crore Rashtriya Gokul Mission.
Ranging from setting up Rashtriya
Kamdhenu Aayog for holding a national
exam on “cow science, genetic upgrading of cow resources, conservation,
protection and development of cows and their progeny, promoting a cow tourism
circuit which will pass through places that breed indigenous cows,” Ministry
dedicated to cow protection, setting up a gaushala
in every panchayat, cow sanctuary and
imposing a 20% cow cess on liquor etc.
The Uttarakhand Law Commission has recommended changes in
the State’s Protection of Cow Progeny Act 2007 to declare cow as ‘rashtra mata’ and setting up veterinary
centres for stray bovines. In Haryana, any person abandoning his/her cattle may
be slapped with a hefty fine. Maharashtra has set up a Gau Seva Aayog as part of a new initiative to protect cattle seized
by the police and initiate legal action.
In fact, various other Opposition-ruled States too have
jumped on the protect-the-cow bandwagon and are extending the Cow Slaughter Ban
Act to bulls and bullocks, notwithstanding criticism. Some have taken off beef
from the menu as trucks carrying cattle continue to be attacked by rightwing
activists. In Delhi the AAP Government is building advanced cow shelters which
will be clubbed with old-age cow homes.
Certainly, Gau mata
is sacred to Hindus and is revered as Kamdhenu
and Matrika. Every bit of the cow is
useful. It helps sustain rural economy, gives milk and even its urine has
miraculous medicinal value. Therefore, it has a central place in religious
rituals as well as free rein to roam in streets. Over the years, a majority of
States have passed controversial slaughter laws which make killing local cows
illegal.
Notably, cow protection has been a live political issue for
long and hotly debated. Even the
founding fathers debated the issue. Said Ambedkar: “Islamic law does not insist
upon the slaughter of cow for sacrificial purposes and no Musalman when goes to
Haj sacrifices cow in Mecca or Medina.”
Article 48 reads: “The State shall endeavour to organise
agriculture and animal husbandry on modern and scientific lines and shall, in
particular, take steps for preserving and improving the breeds and prohibiting
the slaughter of cows and calves and other milch and draught cattle”.
In fact, cow protection was included as a Directive
Principle of State policy. However, the Directive Principle does not provide
for a total nationwide legislative ban on cow slaughter, which the Hindu
fundamentalists have been demanding for long. Several agitations have taken
place since 1966 when Parliament was sought to be gheraoed, resulting in police
firing and deaths.
In the final analysis , people are now conscious of the
fact that religion should not be mixed with politics In our political quicksand
our leaders and gau rashaks underscore
once again there is no ‘sacred cow’ when it comes to garnering votes whereby the
revered bovine suddenly transformers into a political Kamdhenu. Clearly, they must desist from reducing Gau Mata to a religious plank, political
ping-pong, poll gimmick and profitable business in the quest for power.--- INFA
(Copyright, India News & Feature
Alliance)
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