BHOPAL: Spiritual leader Akhileshwaranand Giri, who was recently elevated to the rank of cabinet minister by Madhya Pradesh government, has demanded a new ministry for cow protection — ‘Gau Mantralaya’. Congress called it a poll tactic, while the state government ruled out any such proposal.Giri, who also chairs the executive committee of the government’s cow protection board, said MP should “take the initiative to protect the sacred cow”. “If there can be an Anand Mantralaya (happiness department), why not a Gau Mantralaya? I will submit a proposal to chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan after the board meeting in July. The cow ministry will help generate employment, improve nourishment and bring together all the small departments to protect cows,” he said.Cow ministry will help generate employment, says AkhileshwaranandIf there can be an Anand Mantralaya (happiness department), why not a Gau Mantralaya? I will submit a proposal to chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan after the board meeting in July. The cow ministry will help generate employment, improve nourishment and bring together all the small departments to protect cows,” Akhileshwaranand said.There are already state and central laws against cow slaughter, he pointed out. “Then, why should they be given the status of an ‘animal’ under animal husbandry department? This decision will be an inspiration for future generations,” he said. Rajasthan , he said, has set up a ‘Directorate of Gau Seva’ for protection of cows. He admitted that the move could be seen as political, but felt it will be offset by job creation as a workforce will be needed to protect and nurture cows.Congress called it a political strategy and urged the government to first improve the miserable condition of cow shelters. “Saffron groups are active again ahead of assembly elections. The BJP government should take action against illegal slaughterhouses and cow shelters and check corruption rampant in the name of cow shelters,” said Congress state media in-charge, Manak Agrawal. Asked about Giri’s demand for a cow ministry, animal husbandry minister Antar Singh Arya said, “There is no such proposal with the government. We are doing a lot to save and support the holy animal. Let the proposal come, then the government will look into it.”

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