Humayun Told Babur to Respect Cows: Rajasthan BJP Chief Claims

According to Madan Lal Saini, Humayun asked Babur to “respect cow, Brahmin, and women in India.”

Rajasthan BJP president Madan Lal Saini (second from left). 

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@MPMadanLalSaini)

Two days after Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Indresh Kumar said that lynchings would cease if people stopped eating beef, Rajasthan BJP chief Madan Lal Saini has floated yet another cow-related theory.

Saini said that when Mughal emperor Humayun was dying, he called Babur and asked him to keep three important things in mind in order to command power and extend his rule over India. According to Saini, Humayun asked Babur to "respect the cow, respect Brahmins, and to respect women in India”.

“If you fail to do so, India will never accept the disrespect for these three things," Times Now quoted the BJP worker as saying.

What Does History Say?

First, Babur, Humayun’s father, died in 1531 – almost 25 years before Humayun breathed his last in 1556 – a fact that Saini got completely wrong.

Moreover, Saini's account of history stands in stark contrast to what is popularly known as Babur's wasiyat-nama (will). Popular belief entails Babur told his son Humayun that he needed to distance himself completely from any kind of religious prejudice, and should respect the sentiments of people.

Interestingly, Saini is not the first BJP leader to talk about Babur and cows. While speaking at a conference on cow conservation in August 2015, Home Minister Rajnath Singh claimed that Babur had mentioned in his will that "we can either rule the hearts of people or eat cow meat."

What Did Indresh Kumar Say?

On Monday, 23 July, RSS leader Indresh Kumar had said that cow slaughter was banned across communities and religions. He had said: “Jesus was born in a cowshed. That is why they call it the ‘holy cow’. Cow slaughter is banned in Mecca and Medina. We should make it a resolution to rid humanity of this sin. If humanity gets rid of this sin, the society will get rid of this problem (lynching)... Mob lynchings are condemnable, but cow slaughter is a sin across religions.”

Indresh found a supporter in Shia Waqf Board Chief Waseem Rizvi, who said that security can’t be deployed everywhere and a law should be made to punish the ones indulging in cow slaughter. “Muslims should stop eating beef. Killing of cows should stop. Meat of cows is 'haram' in Islam as well. You can't stop mob lynching, security can't be deployed everywhere. So a law should be made awarding strict punishment to those killing cows,” he said.

‘Congress Making a Mountain Out of a Molehill’

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accused the Congress of making a “mountain out of a molehill,” in reference to the recent mob lynching incidents.

These incidents are given unnecessary importance. If you talk about mob lynching, what was 1984? Law and order is a matter of state. The Congress’ intention to make mountain out of a molehill won’t be successful.

Yogi Adityanath to ANI

The chief minister also added that both cows and human beings were important.

We’ll provide protection to everyone. But it is the responsibility of every individual, every community and every religion to respect each other sentiments. Humans are important, and cows are also important. Both have their own roles in nature.

Yogi Adityanath to ANI

Rajasthan BJP MLA Demands Release of Cow Vigilantes

BJP MLA Gyan Dev Ahuja on Wednesday, 25 July, demanded the release of three persons arrested for allegedly lynching 28-year old Akbar Khan on suspicion of the victim's involvement in smuggling cows, reported PTI.

Ahuja’s demands come after Rajasthan’s Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria ordered a judicial inquiry considering Khan's demise a case of 'custodial death'. “It was repeatedly said by the MLA that he was not killed by the people and he died in police custody. When the home minister has admitted the fact of the custodial death, why innocent cow vigilantes and villagers are being made accused?” a statement issued by Ahuja’s office said.

The statement also demanded the immediate arrest of Aslam, who is the second accused in the case of cow smuggling.