Several Muslim organisations in Uttar Pradesh have voiced support for a demand to declare the cow as India’s national animal. The call was made by Maulana Arshad Madani, president of Jamaat Ulema-e-Hind.
The development comes as northern states continue to take strict action against those involved in cow slaughter. With Bakrid scheduled to be observed on May 28, authorities have also issued guidelines restricting animal slaughter in public places and prohibiting the sacrifice of protected animals.
Madani has urged the government to frame stringent legal provisions against those who buy and sell cows for meat, as well as those engaged in the beef trade.
Backing the proposal, All India Muslim Jamaat national president Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi said Muslim organisations should build a consensus and pursue the demand. He said a meeting of Muslim groups is expected to be held in Delhi soon, where a joint petition is planned to be prepared and submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Siraj Qureshi, who leads the All India Qureshi Jamaat involved in the meat trade in Uttar Pradesh, said the Centre should implement the demand immediately, arguing it would bring uniformity in cow-slaughter-related policies across the country. Other Muslim organisations have also echoed similar views.
