Our Bureau
Lucknow
Days before Bakrid, Muslim organisations in India have backed a demand to declare the cow the country’s national animal, adding a new twist to the debate around the festival and cow slaughter. The call has come from several Muslim clerics and groups, including voices linked to the Ajmer Dargah and the All India Muslim Jamaat, and it has drawn attention across states where Eid-ul-Azha is set to be observed on May 28.
In Jaipur, cleric associated with the 12th-century Ajmer Dargah Sharif joined the appeal on Friday, urging that the cow be given national animal status and that there be a complete ban on the sale and slaughter of cows, as well as the export of beef.
The issue has gained momentum as state governments in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Assam have warned that cow slaughter during Eid-ul-Azha could invite punitive action. The timing is sensitive because the festival, also known as Bakra Eid, is expected to bring large gatherings and animal sacrifice across the country.
Separately, All India Muslim Jamaat national president Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi had earlier urged the Central and state governments to declare the cow the national animal, saying such a move would promote social harmony. The latest statements show that the demand is now being echoed by multiple Muslim leaders, even as the festival season approaches.
The growing support has made the cow debate a major talking point ahead of Bakrid, with religious leaders and government warnings now moving into the same public space.
