On September 18, 2023, hundreds of villagers and local peasants under the All India Kisan Mahasabha (AIKM) banner gathered at the Uttarkhand’s Lalkuan tehsil in Uttarakhand to protest the increasing menace of stray cattle which is a manifestation of government's cow protection laws. The protesters herded stray cows and bulls inside the tehsil office, demanding to manage these animals that are wreaking havoc on livelihood of local farmers and have become the biggest source of life threatening accidents.
The stray cattle are severely damaging agriculture and causing numerous road accidents. Despite these issues, the government remains unresponsive, which could lead to a larger crisis. AIKM leader Bahadur Singh Jangi called for the change in the anti-farmer cow protection law and stressed on the urgent need for the establishment of a government-assured system for purchasing of unproductive cattle from farmers. He also called for immediate compensation for the crops damaged by these animals, and monetary compensation to victims of cattle-related accidents.
The BJP is treating cows merely as a tool for gaining votes and polarising communities. The government's indifference to the plight of stray animals demonstrates a lack of genuine concern for their welfare. Stray cows eating plastic and drinking polluted water is proof of the cruelty meted out to them that have become emblematic of one decade of BJP rule. While the Prime Minister poses for photographs with calves ahead of elections, he must answer why under his rule cattle are suffering. Why is there a free rein for mob lynching in the name of dietary choices? BJP is not bothered about cows, people and agriculture, their only aim is to use cows for their nefarious communal game plan, said speakers in this protest.
With the increasing number of stray cattle the public anger is growing, while the government’s proposed gaushalas (cow shelters) serve merely as a cosmetic exercise to deceive the people. However, reports from Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and other states indicate that hundreds of cows have died in shelters due to neglect. Similar incident occurred last year at the government Kanji house in Dehradun. This clearly shows that cows are being sent to shelters merely to benefit the operators financially, most of them are linked to the ruling BJP or its affiliated organisations. The BJP is exploiting the cow for political gains but the common folk and livestock farmers are bearing the brunt.
The BJP government has done more harm to the livestock under the guise of protection, while they nurture goons committing mob lynching as ‘cow protectors’. They do not protect cows; instead, they attack humans and sow seeds of hatred. Strict actions should be taken against these goons masquerading as cow vigilantes. Those who involve themselves in intimidation or terror in the name of cow must be arrested and prosecuted. Such cow vigilante groups must be disbanded.
The protesters brought with them many stray cows to hand them over to the Tehsildar along with a memorandum addressed to Uttarakhand Chief Minister outlining following demands:
The government should either amend or repeal the cow protection law as well as guarantee the purchase of cattle at government expenses on predetermined prices for calves, bulls and cows etc.
Provide Rs. 10 lakh compensation to the injured in accidents caused by stray cattle and minimum of Rs. 50 lakh to the families of the deceased.
Compensate farmers for the damage to standing crops caused by stray bulls and cows.
The local administration should efficiently manage the stray cattle problem to provide relief to the distressed population.
Prevent private gaushala operators from extorting money from livestock owners and take stringent action for the mismanagement in such shelters.
AIKM strongly opposes any actions against farmers for abandoning their animals and warns of protests if such actions occur.
Livestock farmers should be given subsidies to compensate the losses incurred in keeping unproductive animals similar to those given to private gaushalas.
The protest was addressed by CPIML Uttarakhand state secretary Indresh Maikhuri, AIKM Uttarakhand President Anand Singh Negi, district secretary of CPIML in Nainital Dr. Kailash Pandey, Bhuwan Joshi, Pushkar Singh Dubadia, Vimla Rauthan, Anand Singh Sijwali, Congress block president Pushkar Danu, Congress leader Kundan Singh Mehta and many others.
Earlier on August 7, a demonstration was held by CPIML and AIKM on this issue. The protest march held on September 18, warned that if the stray cattle problem is not resolved, they will initiate a Dera Dalo, Ghera Dalo protest at the tehsil office.
