Some people think ‘Om’ and ‘cow’ will take country back to 16th century

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Sep 12, 2019 : Some people when they hear the words ‘Om’ and ‘gaay (cow)’ think it takes the country back to the 16th century, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Wednesday at the launch of a programme in Mathura for prevention of livestock diseases, Yahoo reported.

 

The Opposition hit back at the Prime Minister, saying he should talk about the economy instead and be alarmed when people are killed in the name of cow.

"It is unfortunate for the country that some get irritated as soon as they hear words like ‘om’ and ‘cow’. They think that the country will now go back to the 16th century," he said while launching the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) for eradicating Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Brucellosis in livestock.

"Desh barbaad karne walo ne desh barbaad karne mein kuchh nahi chhoda hai (The people who want to destroy the country have left no stone unturned)," Modi further said.

Taking a dig at PM Modi’s remark, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, referring to incidents of lynching by alleged gau rakshaks, said he should be concerned when people get killed in the name of cow protection

"Narendra Modi ke kaan tab khade ho jane chahiye jab gaye ke naam par insano ko mara jaa raha hai aur sanvidhan ki dhajiya udayi jaa rahi hai," he said.

Owaisi said that though cow was a "sacred animal for our Hindu brothers, in Constitution, right to life and equality has been given to humans."

The Congress slammed the prime minister for the remarks, alleging that it was an attempt to "pert and digress" from the state of the economy.

"I find him today speaking not on the economy but on ‘cow and Om’. Somebody else speaks on how the Congress is doing. Is that the answer to the economy which I am raising, that is exactly pert, digress — two Ds," Singhvi said.
Speaking in similar vein, CPI general secretary D Raja asked why the prime minister was raising issues of ‘Om’ and ‘cow’ when he should be talking about the state of the economy.

"He is saying this at a time when in the name of cow and God, mob lynchings are happening unabated across the country. He should behave as the PM of this country, must speak on real issues and address unemployment instead of attacking the Opposition," he told PTI.

With 100 per cent funding from the Central government till 2024, the Rs 12,652 crore disease prevention programme aims at vaccinating over 500 million livestock, including cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats and pigs against the FMD.

The programme also aims at vaccinating 36 million female bovine calves annually in its fight against Brucellosis disease. The programme has two components to control the diseases by 2025 and eradication by 2030.

Modi also launched the National Artificial Insemination Programme before interacting with farmers. During his visit, he joined women in segregating plastic from waste at the ‘Swachhta Hi Seva’ programme.