Cow occupies revered place, no ‘Rashtra Mata’ declaration necessary, says Yogi

Lucknow: Chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said the cow occupies a revered place in Indian culture and does not need any formal declaration to be recognised as a “national animal” or “Rashtra Mata”.Addressing a programme in Bijnor, he said, “For those who regard the cow as ‘Gau Mata,’ no official declaration was necessary. Just as a son does not need to be told who his mother is, there is no need to formally declare the cow as our mother,” Yogi said.The event in Bijnor was organised for distribution of land ownership rights to 1,645 beneficiaries, including families displaced from Pakistan, former servicemen and leaseholders. The state govt described the initiative as aimed at ensuring dignity, security and legal ownership for those receiving the rights.Referring to recent remarks by some Muslim clerics who advocated declaring the cow the national animal, Yogi said the cow holds a sacred position in Hindu traditions. He criticised what he described as contradictory positions, alleging that some who support cow slaughter were also calling for national status for the animal.He also cited social media posts made during Eid al-Adha, alleging that some individuals shared images of cows while extending festival greetings, and used the reference to underline his criticism of what he termed selective messaging around the issue.Drawing a parallel with the river Ganga, Yogi said both the cow and the Ganga are regarded as mothers in Indian culture and tradition.“No invader or outsider needs to tell us that Ganga is our mother. These are our civilisational values,” he said.The chief minister also targeted certain religious leaders for what he described as silence on the plight of Hindu minorities displaced from Pakistan. He said such leaders did not raise their voices for displaced families whose properties were “seized” by “extremists in Pakistan”.Adityanath further alleged that some properties in India had been encroached upon in the name of Waqf and suggested that displaced families should be rehabilitated on such lands. Without naming individuals, he accused some leaders of displaying a “double character” by raising selective issues while remaining silent on displaced communities.He also warned anti-social elements involved in activities detrimental to public order and national interests, saying the govt would continue firm action to protect law-abiding citizens.Referring to Bakrid celebrations, he said the administration took advance steps to maintain law and order, enabling festivals to be observed peacefully across Uttar Pradesh.Contrasting the present situation with earlier govts, Yogi said major religious events in western Uttar Pradesh faced significant challenges in the past.