Himachal Govt Demands Cows Be Declared ‘Rashtra Mata’

The Himachal Pradesh Assembly has passed a resolution to declare cow as ‘the mother of the nation.’

The Himachal Pradesh government on Thursday, 13 December, demanded cows be declared the ‘mother of the nation.’ The state Assembly passed a resolution declaring cow as the ‘rashtra mata,’ which will now be forwarded to the Centre, reported The Times Of India.

The resolution was tabled by Congress MLA Anirudh Singh, and was backed by the ruling BJP legislators.

“Cow is not bound by any caste, creed or religion and makes a huge contribution to humanity. People abandon cows when they stop giving milk, so there is need for such a move.”

Anirudh Singh, Congress MLA, to The Times of India

Himachal Pradesh is not the first government to demand this. In September 2018, Uttarakhand became the first state to demand cow to be declared the ‘rashtra mata.’

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The state’s Animal Husbandry Minister Virendar Kanwar said that the government is setting up cow sanctuaries in the state.

“Rs 1.52 crore has been sanctioned for a sanctuary in Sirmaur district. Other sanctuaries are proposed for Solan and Kangra districts.”

Virendar Kanwar, Animal Husbandry Minister to The Times of India

Anirudh Singh has also asked for a law to prevent cow vigilantism and mob lynching in the state, the newspaper reported. The MLAs also urged the government to promote the state’s local breed, which is being renamed ‘Gauri.’

The legislators’ demands also include a separate cow ministry, taking cue from Rajasthan which set up the country’s first ministry for the bovine’s protection in 2015, according to The Times of India.

According to BJP MLA Kishori Lal, Himachal Pradesh government has already allotted Rs 17 crore from temple offerings and Rs 8 crore on cow cess to use for the welfare of cows.

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(With inputs from The Times of India)