Taking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to task for his recent hard-hitting statement on cow vigilantes, calling them goons in the guise of cow protectors, Jyotir Peeth Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati challenged Modi on Monday to leave the BJP and contest the election on his own based on his development agenda.
“Modi’s statement has hurt the sentiments of the cow lovers across the country. He must clear his agenda on the Gauraksha. His statement has triggered insecurity among the cow protectors. If he has the spunk he should test his electoral fortunes by leaving the BJP and contesting the election on his own on his pet development agenda. I am sure if he does so he would realize what is what,” the seer said.
The fire-spitting seer now staying in Kankhal said that it was true that some people were misusing the cow’s name to earn money. “But it does not apply to all. There are instances galore of the cow vigilantes stopping truck loads of cows being taken to West Bengal for slaughter. They were handed over to the police. Are they goonsIJ Cow is deemed as mother for it is useful. Even its excreta is useful. So it must be saved at any cost,” the seer said.
He further said that BJP is a party with Hindu leaning. “The Hindus respect cows. It is thus the duty of the saffron party to respect the sentiment of the Hindus vis-à-vis the cows,” he said.
Firing more broadsides at Modi, he said he was out and out a hypocrite. “On one hand, he is shedding crocodile tears for the cows being slaughtered. And on the other hand, he is doing nothing to stop India from being the highest exporter of cows,” he said.
Asked if the issue of cow was not being politicised, Shanakrachaya said “We are religious. We consider cow as mother. It is our religious belief that if someone donates cow in the last moments of his life he gets moksha. In the material world too, the cow dung is being used in producing cereal which is a healthy food item.”