A renewed national debate has emerged over demands to declare the cow as India’s “Rashtra Mata” (Mother of the Nation), with several Muslim organisations now also reportedly supporting the proposal. The discussion gained further attention after Bageshwar Dham chief Dhirendra Krishna Shastri welcomed the development, saying, “the country is changing.”
“Even Muslims supporting the idea,” says Dhirendra Shastri
Speaking to the media in Uttarakhand’s Badrinath, Dhirendra Shastri referred to recent reports suggesting that some Muslim groups had backed the proposal.
He said, “We saw news that even Muslims in the country are now supporting the proposal to declare the cow as ‘Rashtra Mata’. Maybe Maulana Madani has also raised this demand with the government.”
He further added a comparison of attitudes toward cows, saying, “We are people who rear cows, while some others consume cow meat. We feed cows with roti, but some people eat cows. Now if they are also supporting this movement, then the country is truly changing.”
Maulana Arshad Madani raised the demand first
The debate intensified after Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (AM) president Maulana Arshad Madani recently demanded that the government declare the cow a “national animal” or give it a special constitutional status.
He said the step could help reduce violence linked to cow protection issues. Madani argued that cow-related disputes are often misused for political purposes.
He said, “The cow is a symbol of faith and respect in Indian society, but it is being turned into a political issue. In the name of cow protection, people are being provoked against Muslims, and politics is being played for votes.”
Muslim organisations stage support demonstrations
Following Madani’s statement, several Muslim organisations in different parts of the country, including Agra, Delhi, and Pune, have reportedly expressed support for the idea.
In Agra, members of a Muslim mahapanchayat held posters during Eid-ul-Azha and demanded that the cow be declared a national symbol. They said the cow represents Indian culture and public sentiment and therefore deserves respect and protection.
In Delhi’s Seelampur area, after Eid prayers, a group of Muslims also carried posters reading “Declare Cow as National Animal” while marching through local streets. They appealed for peace and communal harmony while raising their demand.
“Stop violence in cow’s name,” says Muslim Forum
In Pune, the Muslim Forum issued a statement supporting the demand and linking it to concerns over mob violence.
The organisation said, “It is painful that in a country where the cow is considered sacred and even like a mother, innocent people are being killed in its name. Mob lynching, hate politics, and targeting a community in the name of cow must stop immediately.”
It further urged the central government to take a permanent decision and declare the cow a national animal to reduce tensions in society.
Debate over cow, politics, and social harmony
The issue has sparked wider discussion on social media and among political and religious groups. Supporters of the proposal argue it could reduce violence and bring clarity in law enforcement, while critics say the issue is being politicised.
Maulana Madani has also claimed that cow-related violence is often misused to create fear and division in society. He has called for an end to what he describes as “political exploitation of religious sentiments.”
