Daijiworld Media Network – Indore
Indore, Apr 13: In a sharp counter to Samajwadi Party (SP) President Akhilesh Yadav's recent jibe about the "foul smell in cowsheds", Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav launched a veiled yet powerful rebuttal on Saturday, asserting that those who take offence to such scents "forfeit their moral claim to reside in India."
The remarks came during the Bhoomi Pujan ceremony for a sprawling cowshed named Kamdhenu Gaushala in Ashapura village of Indore district, initiated by the Indore Municipal Corporation. The facility, spread over an expansive 17,000 hectares, will provide shelter to nearly 10,000 stray and abandoned cattle.
Without naming Akhilesh directly, CM Yadav referred to the SP leader’s controversial comment made in Kannauj known as the ‘perfume city’ where he mocked the BJP’s cowshed initiatives and contrasted them with the SP’s focus on setting up ‘perfume parks’.
“In a state as vast and culturally rich as Uttar Pradesh, it is truly unfortunate that someone from a lineage deeply rooted in cattle-rearing would belittle the sanctity of the cowshed for political mileage,” CM Yadav said. “If the scent of a cowshed is intolerable to someone living in India, then that person has no moral right to remain here,” he added.
Championing the traditional and medicinal values of cow dung, Yadav described it as the "nectar of life" and praised its agricultural and potential medicinal benefits, even citing its emerging relevance in Ayurvedic cancer therapies.
He further underscored the state government’s unwavering dedication to cow welfare, announcing the doubling of the daily allowance for cows housed in registered shelters from Rs 20 to Rs 40, backed by a dedicated budgetary allocation.
“This initiative is not just about animal welfare but also about preserving our cultural heritage,” CM Yadav said. He also noted a growing trend where families choose to celebrate their children's birthdays in cowsheds, a practice he said imbues the occasion with sanctity.
The Kamdhenu Gaushala, once completed, is expected to become a model of compassionate cattle care and a symbol of the state’s commitment to upholding traditional values.