Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, May 20: Maulana Syed Arshad Madani on Wednesday said it would be a welcome step if the cow is declared India’s “national animal”, arguing that such a move could help put an end to communal tensions, mob violence and hate-driven politics linked to cow protection.
The Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind chief expressed concern over what he described as growing incidents of lynching and attacks against Muslims allegedly carried out in the name of cow protection. In a post shared on X, Madani said the politics surrounding the cow had become a major source of communal division and demanded a permanent solution to the issue.
He stated that the majority community regards the cow not only as sacred but also as a mother figure, and said violence and hatred in its name should come to an end.
“Mob lynchings in the name of the cow, the killing of innocent people, hate politics and the campaign to defame Muslims must stop now,” he said.
Madani also questioned why the government had not yet considered granting the cow the status of a national animal if it held such deep cultural and religious significance for a large section of society.
He stressed that no individual should lose their life because of religious or political conflicts and called for an end to divisive politics rooted in communal hatred.
The Muslim leader further pointed to what he described as inconsistencies in laws and practices related to beef consumption across different states. According to him, violence and targeting of minorities are frequently reported in states with significant Muslim populations, while in some other regions beef is openly available.
“This is not devotion but double standards and political manoeuvring,” he remarked.
Madani, who also serves as vice president of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, additionally questioned certain political leaders over alleged contradictions regarding beef consumption and cow protection.
He maintained that declaring the cow as the national animal and implementing a uniform law across all states could help eliminate confusion, selective enforcement and communal tensions linked to the issue.
“Whatever law is enacted for this purpose should be implemented equally throughout the country without discrimination,” he said.