Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing an event at Vigyan Bhavan, delivered a sharp yet light-hearted remark that has sparked discussion across the nation. Speaking about animal lovers, he said, “Our country has many animal lovers, and most of them do not consider the cow as an animal.” The audience broke into laughter, but the underlying message was clear.
PM Modi was pointing towards the selective concern shown by many activists. While street dogs and pets often receive widespread sympathy, the cow, revered in Hindu tradition as Gau Mata, is frequently ignored in such conversations. His comment came in the backdrop of the Supreme Court’s recent order on stray dogs, which saw massive public outrage and intervention by animal rights groups.
For Hindus, the cow is not just an animal but a sacred being, a motherly figure deeply tied to Sanatan Dharma. Modi reminded the nation that compassion should not be selective. If one speaks for animals, the cow cannot be excluded.
Since 2014, his government has taken several initiatives to protect and promote cow welfare, including the establishment of the Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog. His words echo a call to respect cultural values along with compassion.
