Madhya Pradesh minister Bhupendra Singh appeals to cabinet colleagues for cow rearing

BHOPAL: Even as Madhya Pradesh government's first `gau cabinet' has revealed its intentions for the conservation and welfare of cows, ministers of the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government have gone overboard to appeal that cow rearing be promoted. A day after cabinet minister Hardeep Singh Dang suggested that rearing of cows be made mandatory for contesting elections, state urban development minister Bhupendra Singh appealed to all his cabinet colleagues for cow rearing to protect 'gau mata'.
"We all know that cows are revered in our culture. Cow's milk is like "amrit" (nectar). Cow rearing and cow protection is part of Indian culture. There are 33 crore gods and goddesses and "gau mata" is one of them. I appeal to all the ministers for cow rearing and to open cow shelters," said Singh, on Tuesday.
The minister told TOI, "It was the BJP government who passed a law against cow slaughtering and protection of the sacred "gau mata". The Congress could hardly do anything for cow protection except playing politics. I appal that all (public) should promote cow protection and cow rearing. There is already a law in place for cow protection. If needed, a new law can also be brought."
"This is my personal view and I would write to the Election Commission too apart from raising the demand in the party forum. I also propose to collect Rs 500 per month from the state government employees who are drawing a monthly salary of Rs 25,000 and above for the protection of cows," Dang had said a day before.
On Dang's remarks, Congress MLA from Bhopal Madhya (central), Arif Masood said that he was ready to raise cows if the government provides him security. "I am afraid that if I keep a cow or grab its rope, the mob will attack me. If minister Dang guarantees to protect me against the mob lynching, I will support cow rearing," said Masood.
However, the BJP has refused to buy Masood's argument. Minister Bhupendra Singh said that Congress leaders never lose any opportunity to politicise or communalise issues related to cows. "Masood's statement on mob lynching is exaggerated. Such statements lead to serious incidents. Congress should avoid communalising the issue," said the minister.
Amid politics over cow protection and cow rearing, the BJP government is against focusing on "gau sanrakshan" (conservation) and construction of cow sheds in villages and towns as promised during the formation of the "cow cabinet" in November 2020. Recently Congress state president Kamal Nath had raised the issue of stray animals and a sudden rise in road accidents in the state. Both the parties are again eyeing the issue ahead of by-polls on one Lok Sabha and three assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh, said sources.