Muslim Organizations and Clerics Demand National Animal Status for Cow to Promote Harmony
Ten people lost their lives and several others were hospitalised after a group entered the Kalinakatta river near Shirali on Sunday morning.
Several prominent Muslim organizations, clerics, and community leaders across the country have launched campaigns demanding that the cow be officially declared India’s national animal. The initiative is being presented as an effort to strengthen communal harmony, respect religious sentiments, and prevent social tensions linked to cow related disputes.
The movement has gained visibility in states such as Rajasthan and Delhi ahead of Eid ul Adha celebrations. In Jaipur, the Rajasthan Hajj Welfare Society and other Muslim groups have begun signature campaigns seeking support for a formal appeal to the Union government. Similar initiatives have also been reported from Jaisalmer and other regions.
Religious figures associated with Ajmer Dargah Sharif and Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah in Delhi have publicly backed the proposal. They have urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to consider holding a special parliamentary session to discuss granting constitutional protection and official national status to the cow.
Several Muslim leaders involved in the campaign said the demand is also aimed at ending violence and political controversies surrounding cow protection issues. Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi of the All India Muslim Jamaat and Maulana Arshad Madani of Jamiat Ulama e Hind stated that a single national policy could help reduce confusion arising from different state laws and curb incidents of mob violence and vigilantism.
Islamic scholars participating in the campaign emphasized that the initiative is based on mutual respect and peaceful coexistence. Representatives linked to the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and the All India Shia Personal Law Board noted that many Muslims voluntarily avoid practices that may hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindu community.
Meanwhile, the All India Qureshi Jamaat, which represents members of the meat trade community, has reportedly expressed readiness to submit a joint memorandum to the Prime Minister. Organizers are also seeking stricter action against cattle abandonment and are advocating for stronger nationwide regulations related to cattle protection.
The campaign has triggered discussions in political and social circles, with supporters describing it as a gesture aimed at communal understanding, while critics are debating its legal and constitutional implications.