Cow protection will continue in the interest of people: Dr Mohan Bhagwat
Dr Bhagwat was addressing the annual Vijayadashami Program at Reshambag ground coinciding with 93rd Foundation Day of the world’s largest Hindu organization he now heads. In his hour-long speech touching various issues of national importance the RSS Sarsanghchalak prominently referred to the issue of cow vigilantism currently in public discourse in the country.
The issue of cow vigilantism and the acts of violence allegedly associated with it prompted the Supreme Court to issue directives to the state governments to contain this violence. Even the Prime Minister had warned the people on this issue. It was against such background that the RSS Sarsanghchalak has thrown his weight in the balance in favour of cow protection and promotion activities and activists.
The Sarsanghchalak further asserted that Sangh swaymsevaks, saints of all sects and other voluntary organizations and individuals including many followers of Islam are running the activity of cow protection and promotion. In our ‘sanskruti’ cow is an article of faith, he asserted saying that cow protection is also included in the Directive principles of our Constitution and many states ruled by different political parties at different times have formulated laws regarding cow protection.
Dr Bhagwat further said that the utility of the Bharatiya breed of cow is scientifically proven now with the nutritional value of its milk that contains A-2, the medicinal value of cow-dung and urine for human beings and agricultural value in developing fertilizers and pest controllers that protect the soil fertility and wards off the side effects.
He however referred to the clandestine activity of cow smuggling saying that it has become a serious issue in all the states especially, on the Bangladesh border. In such a scenario, activities of cow protection and cow promotion become more valuable, he averred.
Stating that all these activities are undertaken by the activists within the legal and Constitutional framework, the Sarsanghchalak said that after inquiries into the recent incidents of violence and atrocities, it has become amply clear that these activities or the activists were not involved in those acts of violence.
On the contrary, many activists who were peacefully involved in cow protection were attacked and killed but this issue is neither discussed nor inquired into, he lamented stating that “it is unfair to link the cow protectors or entire activity of cow protection with violent incidents or commula feelings without knowing or neglecting the facts”.
Endorsing that many Muslims are also involved in the activity of cow protection, cow promotion and management of gaushalas, Sarsanghchalak Bhagwat said that some of them had told him a nefarious campaign was underway to against the cow protection to create tension among the people of different religions.
Assuring those engaged in this ‘pious activity’ of cow protection Dr Bhagwat said that cow protectors and cow promoters who are piously einvolved in the activity should not worry or get distracted with the well intentioned statements by the highly placed persons in the government or remarks made by the Supreme Court. People who are criminals and involved in violent activities should be bothered about that.
Warning about the misinterpretation of such statements by the vested interests the Sarsanghchalak wanted the government and administration to keep away from such misinterpretation and should ensure that the criminals get penalized and innocents are not troubled.
The legal and virtuous work of cow protection and cow promotion will go on in the interest of the people and will increase in coming days and that will be the ‘apt answer’ to the situation, Dr Bhagwat asserted.
He said that for the medium and marginal farmers in the country cow–based farming is the easiest way of practicing poison free and less capital intensive agriculture. In an organic farming system the cow plays an important role for the farmer and for the land also. In such a situation cow protection becomes all the more important, he added.
Organic farming, mixed farming and farming with cow-based animal husbandry should become a new trend, he said adding that chemical farming is poisoning our food, water and soil and also increasing the expenditure of farmers and need to be done away with.