Uproar over ‘Rajya Mata’ status for cow disrupts Rajasthan Assembly, House adjourned seven times

Pandemonium and repeated adjournments disrupted proceedings in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly on Tuesday after demands to grant the cow the status of “Rajya Mata” (state mother) and calls for stricter action against cow slaughter triggered a day-long political confrontation.

The ruckus began during Question Hour when BJP MLA Balmukundacharya raised the issue, seeking state-mother status for the cow and stronger measures to curb bovine trafficking. He and some other members also demanded that those involved in cow slaughter be charged with murder, sparking loud protests and sloganeering in the House.

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Responding to the query, state Animal Husbandry Minister Jora Ram Kumawat said that an anti-cow slaughter law was already in force in Rajasthan. On the demand for “Rajya Mata” status, he said cows are widely revered and even described in the Vedas as “Vishwa-Mata”, but clarified that no proposal on granting such official status was currently under consideration by the government.

The minister’s response failed to satisfy members across party lines, intensifying the uproar. Leader of Opposition Tika Ram Jully criticised the reply as unclear and referred to a recent alleged cow slaughter incident at Hingoniya Gaushala in Jaipur, claiming the culprits had taken away the severed head of a bovine.

Tensions escalated further when Jully alleged that the name of a BJP member had surfaced in connection with the incident. BJP MLA Gopal Sharma reacted strongly, asserting that the alleged culprit was present in the House. The situation worsened when Sharma crossed into the Opposition benches and was seen confronting state Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra, triggering chaotic scenes, slogan-shouting, and members gathering in the well of the House.

The uproar spread to treasury benches as well, with ruling party MLAs joining protests. Heated exchanges and remarks by several members and ministers, including Food Minister Sumit Godara, further aggravated the situation.

Amid the continuing disorder, the Speaker adjourned the House seven times — twice during Question Hour, twice during Zero Hour until 1 pm, and three more times between 2 pm and 5.15 pm — severely disrupting proceedings and cutting into the general discussion on the state Budget for 2026-27.

Later, Jully condemned the confrontation inside the Opposition benches as unfortunate. Gopal Sharma subsequently apologised for his conduct.

When the House reconvened at 5.15 pm, Jully concluded the Opposition’s participation in the budget debate, following which Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Diya Kumari delivered the government’s reply before the Assembly was adjourned for the day.