Yogi Adityanath directs officials to make ensure shelter for every stray cow!
Lucknow: At a time when the opposition has alleged that the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh is more focused on cows than human lives, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed the officials to make proper arrangements and care of stray cows.
He has also ordered clearing of grazing grounds in different parts of the state from increasing encroachments. In a meeting with senior officials, the chief minister asked them to set up a proper committee to consider measures for providing better shelter facilities for stray cows and directed Chief Secretary Anup Chanda Pandey to present recommendations in this regard within a week.
Adityanath also said in case of encroachments on grazing land for cattle, immediate steps be taken for its removal and strict action be initiated against the accused, according to an official release issued here Tuesday.
Yogi Adityanath instructed officials to make 750 cows’ shelters at the Zilla Panchayat level functional, the chief minister told them that proper fodder, shed and drinking facilities should be provided to the stray cows both in rural and urban areas, it said.
He said the state government has allotted Rs 10 crore to each of the 16 municipal corporations to arrange proper and clean shelter for stray cows, while Rs 1.2 crore has been given to every district for setting up proper gaushalas. Funds for making shelter for cows in 69 civic bodies have been sanctioned and the relative amount has also been released, but, so far, work has been completed only in Bareilly and Lucknow municipal corporations, Adityanath said.
“The value of cows is much more than all others… When there will be no one left, who will be called ‘gau mata’and who will be worshipped?” Sajan posed.
Even defending the chief minister’s stand, BJP MLA Sanjay Sharma said, “Cow is directly related to our religion since years back. It must be protected.” Actor Naseeruddin Shah had in a recent video alleged that in many areas “death of a cow is more significant than that of a police officer”.
