VHP affiliate wants ministry on cow welfare and even sets a deadline for Modi govt

New Delhi: The Central government has been asked by an affiliate of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) to create a separate ministry for the welfare of cows.

The Bharatiya Govansh Rakshan Samvardhan Parishad has even given a deadline to the Narendra Modi government for the same while reminding it of its pre-poll promise to protect cows, considered sacred by Hindus.

A leader of the organisation told the Hindustan Times newspaper that the ministry was needed to ensure a complete ban on cow slaughter, consumption of beef and protection of Indian breeds, some of which are on the brink of extinction.

The demand comes at a time when consumption of beef has become a controversial issue and has even led to attacks by some fringe right-wing groups.

Dadri lynching incident is one such example.

Cow protection is one of the key areas on which the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), parent organisation of the VHP as well as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, focuses on.

Already, laws on cow protection have been formulated by several states ruled by the BJP.