Congress MP Ujjwal Raman Singh surprised many in Parliament on Thursday when he asked the central government to declare the cow as “Rashtramata” or “Rajmata.” He raised the issue during Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha and said that India’s indigenous cow breeds need urgent protection. He also demanded a complete ban on the slaughter of all cattle.
Singh said in the House that the population of desi cows is falling rapidly and that their identity and dignity must be protected. “The cow is a symbol of national identity and pride. There is an urgent need to protect and respect our indigenous cow breeds,” he said. He added that Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand has been consistently pushing for this recognition and that the government should consider his demand. “The cow should be given the status of Rashtramata or Rajmata,” Singh told Parliament.
His statement created discussion because this issue is usually raised by the BJP and its affiliated groups. The demand for declaring the cow as “Rashtramata” has mostly come from Hindu religious leaders and right-wing organisations.
By bringing up the issue in Parliament, Singh has signalled that Congress leaders also think about this matter, even though the party has not made any official comment. For now, it appears to be his personal stand rather than the party’s position.
