Jaipur: Ashok Gehlot makes true 'gau bhakt' pitch

JAIPUR: In what is seen as a bid to woo traditional BJP supporters, chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday claimed Congress to be the true 'gau bhakt' unlike BJP which used cows only for votes.

"In Hindu religion, cow is considered as mother, but BJP plays politics in the name of cows. Congress does what it says. BJP hijacked Congress icons. Congress is the true 'gau bhakt'," he said while speaking to media on the sidelines of 'Gauraksha Sammelan', the first of its kind organised by the Congress government in Jaipur on Saturday.

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot interacts with gaushala directors and representatives during the first state-level ‘Gauraksha Sammelan’ held at Jaipur Exhibiton and Convention Centre in the city on Saturday.

Held ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the meeting is seen as the Congress party's attempt to reach out to traditional BJP voters over the sensitive issue, with the state witnessing several incidents of violence related to cows.

At the convention, Gehlot tried to reach out to representatives of about 3,000 registered gaushalas.

In his address, Gehlot said he had extended the popular 'free medicine scheme' for livestock in his previous tenure claiming that 'cow protection is part of our cultural legacy'.

‘Happy that BJP government didn’t shut gaupalan directorate’

Refuting BJP’s charges of his government resorting to populism and freebies, he said it was part of social security and culture. The chief minister also took credit for setting up the gaupalan directorate during his previous tenure which the BJP government converted into a department.

“I am happy that the previous BJP government which discontinued many of our welfare schemes had not shut down the gaupalan directorate but only changed it into a department,” he said. The grant of Rs 32 for an adult cow and Rs 16 for a semiadult cow, which he reminded was introduced by his government, would be increased. However, he did not announce the quantum of increase.

The scope for enhancement will be examined and announced later, he said.

He also said the decision to convert meadows (gauchar land) and pasture land for other use would be examined.

“Our ancestors’ decision not to use ‘gauchar’ land and pasture land for any other purpose is testimony of their vision to protect the livestock and environment,” he said. He assured that if any changes have been made to this provision, it would also be examined. The representatives of gaushalas demanded an allocation of at least 20 acres of gauchar land to each cow shelter and increasing the grant to guashalas as the present grant was very meagre.

They also suggested including the development of pasture land under the NREGA and amending rules of using MP and MLA funds for gaushalas. Some also demanded free power and water connection to gaushalas.