Bhopal: Amid a row over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remark against the so-called cow vigilantes, a top official of the BJP-ruled Madhya Prdesh government has claimed that the
the third world war will start over a cow.
This remark was made by Mahamandleshwar Swami Akhileshwaranand Giri, who is the chairman of executive council of the Madhya Pradesh Gaupalan Evam Pashudhan Samvardhan Board.
Giri is the head of the MP government body which is responsible for protecting and conserving the cow in a state with a history of vigilantism.
Interestingly, Giri is also the first religious person to hold the post.
“The cow has always been a source of contention. There are references in mythology and the first war of independence in 1857 began over the cow,” Swami was quoted as saying by the Indian Express.
“It’s natural for gau rakshaks to get angry when they see dead or injured cows packed in vehicles because it’s an emotive issue for them,” said Giri, who got the title of Mahamandleshwar of Niranjani Akhara in March 2010, nearly 12 years after he had taken sanyasi deeksha.
“They should not take the law into their own hands and should wait for the police to come once they stop such vehicles. When all states pass stricter anti-cow slaughter laws, smuggling of cattle through state borders will become impossible,” he added.
Before taking deeksha, the former VHP office-bearer was associated with the Ram Janmabhoomi movement and involved in “reconversion” of Christians to Hinduism in MP and Chhattisgarh. A firm believer in the divinity of the desi cow, he says its milk, urine and dung have medicinal qualities that can fight diseases like cancer and epilepsy.
Born Dhruvnarayan Dubey in Chhindwara, the swami says his hands are full as a lot needs to be done to further the work of cow conservation, research and awareness.
