The spiritual head of Ajmer dargah has said that the government should ban the slaughter of all bovine animals, as well as the sale of beef to promote communal harmony in the country.

Dargah Deewan Zainul Abedin Ali Khan has said that Muslims should take the initiative on the matter so that a good and positive message goes out.

The Deewan also said he and his family would henceforth not consume beef and urged the government to declare the cow as the national animal.

Releasing his message in the presence of religious heads of various shrines from different parts of the country during 805th annual Urs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti in Ajmer, Khan also said ‘triple talaq’ is not as per Shariah law.

“[the] slaughtering of all bovine animals and sale of beef are prominent reasons for communal hatred. Muslims should set an example by resolving to not consume beef in the interest of the country’s communal harmony,” he said.

The Deewan also welcomed the Gujarat government’s move to enact a law with the provision of life sentence for those found guilty of cow slaughter. “Cow is the symbol of religious belief... it is also the duty of every follower of the religion to protect them,” he said.

The religious heads of various sufi shrines from various parts of the country were present on the occasion.