Sadhus and Saints protest at District Magistrate’s Office demanding Declaration of Cow as National Mother

Hundreds of sadhus, saints, monks, along with common people, demonstrated at the District Magistrate’s office in the religious city of Kashi on Monday, demanding that the cow be declared National Mother and that a Central law be enacted to ban cow slaughter nationwide.

During this period, signed petitions and memorandums were submitted through the district administration to the President, Prime Minister, Governors, and Chief Ministers of the respective states.

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Mahant Balak Das, associated with the campaign, stated that as part of the second phase of the “Gau Samman Aahwan Abhiyaan,” aimed at ensuring the service, protection, and respect of the cow, signed petitions and memorandums were submitted through District Magistrates in all districts across the country on Monday.

He explained that this campaign has been led by saints, cow protectors, and cow devotees across the country for the past six months. Through the campaign, more than 30 key demands were placed before the government, including the enactment of a Central law prohibiting cow slaughter across the country, honoring Mother Cow as Mother of the Nation, freeing grazing lands from encroachment, establishing a Central Cow Ministry, formulating a Central Cow Fodder Policy, and incorporating agriculture, medicine, the environment, education, and other human-related issues into a national cow-centric policy. A nationwide public awareness and signature campaign was also launched in support of these demands.

He stated that due to the lack of expected decisions on the demands, reminder petitions containing signatures from over 150 million citizens across the country were sent to the government in the second phase of the campaign. A petition containing signatures from approximately 5.5 lakh citizens from Varanasi district was also sent to the central government through the district administration.

The program began with the worship of Mother Cow, the blowing of conch shells, and the collective chanting of the mantra “Shri Ram, Jai Ram, Jai Jai Ram.” Following this, cow devotees marched to the District Magistrate’s office in a peaceful and disciplined prayer march, carrying flags, banners, placards with campaign messages, and singing hymns.

The prayer march included a tableau of Lord Krishna and Balram, a tableau of Mother Cow, and a symbolic display of signatures collected as part of the campaign. Following this, a delegation of saints, the district executive, representatives of various social and religious organizations, and prominent citizens submitted a memorandum and a signed petition to the district administration.

Campaign representatives stated that Mother Cow is not only a matter of religious faith, but also an important foundation of Indian culture, agriculture, the environment, rural economy, and public welfare. They urged the government to take a prompt, positive decision on demands related to the service, protection, and respect of Mother Cow. They also stated that the campaign is being conducted in a completely peaceful, democratic, and constitutional manner and will continue in phases until a decision is reached in accordance with public sentiment.

On this occasion, saints and mahatmas of the district, representatives of various social and religious organizations, women power, youth, farmers, businessmen, public representatives and a large number of cow devotees were present.