Declare cow as national animal; nation will prosper when cows are protected: Allahabad HC

The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday observed that the cow should be declared a national animal.

Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav's observation came while denying bail to a person charged under the Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act in Uttar Pradesh. The bail was denied on the grounds that the accused was a repeat offender and that if released he would continue to do the same and "vitiate the atmosphere in the society."   

Calling for strict action against those who talk about harming the cow, the judge noted that the country will prosper if the cows are taken care of.

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The court also lamented that some of those who speak of cow protection have today become cow eaters. The judge slammed the government, stating that even though it sets up 'gaushalas' or cow shelters, the animals are not taken care of adequately.

Also targetting private cow shelters, the judge said in his order that such institutions had today become a mere facade and that those who run these intitutions seek funds in the name of cows but do not take care of them. In this situation, Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav said, the cows die of hunger and disease.

Stating that posing with two cows for a photograph is not enough, the judge said that serious efforts are needed to ensure the welfare of cows.

"Cow protection and promotion work is not limited to one religious community, but rather cows need to be seen as part of Indian culture and the responsibility to protect the cow is the responsibility of every citizen regardless of faith," Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav said in his order.

"There are countless instances. Whenever we have we have forgotten our culture, foreigners have attacked and enslaved us. And if even today we are not cautious, we should not forget the autocratic Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan," he further said. 

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• Cow
• national animal
• Cow protection
• Allahabad High Court
• Constitution
• Gaushala
• Uttar Pradesh
• activists