New Delhi: A “new member” at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official residence, 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, has garnered reactions from all parts of the country. The PM Saturday shared a video and photos on social media introducing a newborn calf, named ‘Deepjyoti’, born to a cow at his residence.
The calf was named ‘Deepjyoti’, because of a unique mark resembling a flame on its forehead, which he linked to the Sanskrit phrase, “Gaav: Sarvasukha Prada” (cows provide all forms of happiness). The Prime Minister can be seen in the video playing with the calf, petting it, and walking with it through his garden.
While the video received praise from many, animal rights activists took this opportunity to highlight the need for stronger animal welfare laws. Across social media, various users on X and Instagram asked the PM to ensure stricter laws for animal protection.
“So wonderful to see this. @narendramodi ji, Our country urgently needs legal reforms to prevent cruelty towards animals, our existing provisions are archaic and ineffective as deterrents. There are no significant consequences for those who harm homeless animals. Perpetrators of such crimes MUST face severe punishment to serve as a proper deterrent, the rape of animals needs to be recognised and criminalised again… Please use all your power to make this happen, for the sake of these God’s children, like the one that’s in your arms,” one Instagram user wrote.
हमारे शास्त्रों में कहा गया है – गाव: सर्वसुख प्रदा:'।
लोक कल्याण मार्ग पर प्रधानमंत्री आवास परिवार में एक नए सदस्य का शुभ आगमन हुआ है।
प्रधानमंत्री आवास में प्रिय गौ माता ने एक नव वत्सा को जन्म दिया है, जिसके मस्तक पर ज्योति का चिह्न है।
इसलिए, मैंने इसका नाम 'दीपज्योति'… pic.twitter.com/NhAJ4DDq8K
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 14, 2024
A new member at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg!
Deepjyoti is truly adorable. pic.twitter.com/vBqPYCbbw4
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 14, 2024
Some social media users also pointed to the paradox of celebrating cows while many ill or injured cows can be seen roaming the streets.
Others raised concerns about cow protection in India, referencing the victims of cow vigilante violence.
Last month, a 19-year-old student from Faridabad, Aryan Mishra, was shot dead by cow vigilantes who allegedly mistook him to be a cattle smuggler. Five people have been arrested in connection with the killing.
In an interview to The Hindu this year, Yamini Narayanan, author of ‘Mother Cow, Mother India’ said that to truly understand cow protectionism, one must center the lived experiences of cows and their calves.
“The public meta-narrative is that cows are either abandoned on the road or sent to gaushalas, but the cold reality of dairy economics is animals bred and exploited for dairy must be eventually slaughtered when no longer producing lactate. However, framing the cow as ‘mother’ or ‘goddess’ is basically a gaslighting tactic that blurs the cold reality that the cow is a milk-producing resource and economics demands that the unproductive resources be treated — and disposed of — as such,” she wrote.
“In masking this reality, the cow’s sacred status intensifies her vulnerability to being used for dairy — it does not protect her or her calf,” she added.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
Also Read: Faridabad gau rakshak now ‘regrets’ killing a Brahmin. ‘Sad we killed our brother’
India is 4th biggest beef exporter says it all.
When will Mr.Modi ban animal husbandry if not for all atleast for cows since it involves forceful insemination? Will he risk destroying the milk industry for cow protection?
Manipur is burning and our PM has time to make drama ?
You can hate modi for his politics but this man heart is gold.