Daijiworld Media Network - Mysuru (SP)

Mysuru, Jan 22: Members of Bharatiya Gau Parivar have initiated a campaign to send letters, using their blood as ink, to both the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and Karnataka chief minister, Siddaramaiah, urging them to impose blanket ban on cow slaughter.

Bharatiya Gau Parivar functions under Sri Ramachandrapur Math that has been working for the protection of cows. Volunteers from different outfits have joined together under the umbrella of this organization for undertaking signature campaign against cow slaughter, which has been titled 'Abhayakshara'.

Those associated with this campaign claim that about 70 lac people in the state have already signed petition urging the concerned to ban cow slaughter. The initiative of writing letters in blood, they say, which is named 'Raktakshara', too has been getting full-fledged support from a large number of people. It is said that already over 500 volunteers from Dakshina Kannada district, known as 'Gau Kinkaras' have written letters using their own blood as above, said activist of Bharatiya Cau Parivar, Ravish Bhat Pidamale, speaking to an English daily. He said that under the 'Abhayakshara' initiative of signature campaign, one crore letters each are planned to be sent to the Prime Minister and chief minister. He added that writing letters with their own blood is purely optional and campaigns for the same were held in the city, Puttur and some other places.

"Under this initiative, three ml of blood is drawn from the volunteers through a disposable syringe, and the blood so drawn is mixed with anticoagulant solution and then the pen is used to write letters,"Ravish stated. Over 300 volunteers from the city and Puttur wrote such letters. All the letters under these two campaigns will be preserved in the 'Abhayakshara' office at Bharati college and later sent to the Prime Minister and Chief Minister, it is gathered. Similarly worded petitions read, "I, as an Indian, considering the values of my life and sentiments, and with the intention of fulfilling the contents of Article 48 of the constitution, out of my own will and blood, am appealing to you to implement ban on slaughter of cows and its family."

Vidya Aravind, another activist, said that a campaign was organized by Sri Raghavendra Gau Ashram, Malur near Kolar on Sunday. She said that the 'Abhaya Gau Yatra' organized by the Ashram had travelled across the state, covering about 4,000 km, in support of 'Abhayakshara' campaign.

Vidyalaxmi, convener of Bharatiya Gau Parivar, speaking to Daijiworld, pointed out that article 48 of the constitution speaks about cow slaughter ban law and that the movement to bring pressure on the Prime Minister and chief minister through pooling of signatures to implement this demand, is being pursued. She added that the campaign is targetted at six crore Kannadigas.

Sri Raghaveshwara Bharatiteertha Swamiji of Ramachandrapur Math is the brain behind these campaigns. Bharatiya Gau Parivar set up under his guidance has been providing leadership to the campaigns of obtaining signatures and writing of letters in blood. "We are asking people to take part in this campaign, without differentiating them on religious, caste, or political lines," she clarified.

In the past, the country had about a hundred Indian breeds of cows. Over the centuries, this number has declined to just 33. We have to realize the seriousness of this issue and stay committed to the protection of Indian breed cows, she said.

"Already 70 lac signatures have been collected under 'Abhayakshara' campaign. Inspired by the Swamiji, a thousand people have come forward and written letters without any pressure on their own, and signed the same for onward transmission to the Prime Minister and Chief Minister, she clarified.

The signature collection campaign is being held by the Parivar in fairs, festivals, parks, meetings and other public functions, Vidyalaxmi stated.