Stung by critical reaction to his purported statement dubbing those who slaughter cows as the greatest enemies of India on Thursday, Chief Minister Harish Rawat said on Friday that the news related to the matter being given wide coverage by a news agency is absolutely false.
“I have been professing a progressive outlook all through and such a statement attributed to me has hurt me deeply,” he said, while having an informal conversation with the media at Bijapur Guest House on Friday.
The purported statement of the CM, allegedly saying those who are slaughtering cows being the greatest enemies of India have no right to stay in the country while addressing a programme to mark Gopashtami in Haridwar on Thursday, triggered a major controversy in the State’s political circles. More so as the debate on cow slaughter and eating of beef has been raging in the country, stepped up by several noted artists and intellectuals relinquishing Government-bestowed awards in protest against perceived spree of intolerance gripping the country.
Rawat categorically denied having said such a thing. “I am out and out a progressive person. Many politicians from the ruling party and the Opposition aside from the people were present there. Ramanandacharya Swami Shri Hansdevacharaji presided over it. They would corroborate my denial,” he said, adding that no person had said such a thing in his presence during the programme either.
“We respect cow. We have started Gai Ganga Yozna. We are providing bonus on milk production along with plantation of fodder trees and water conservation. If any person and organisation take initiatives to protect old and abandoned cows State government is within its rights to prepare a scheme to help them,” he said.
Referring to his Government’s commitment to link cows with economy to ensure employment, he said they would carry on with it. “But attributing such outrageous things to me is something unimaginable,” CM averred.