Representational image.

The Allahabad high court has said that cows should be declared the national animal.

The court also observed protection should be made a fundamental right of Hindus.

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A single-judge bench of Justice Shekhar Yadav made this observation while denying bail to a Muslim man arrested under the Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act.

Justice Yadav said cows were an integral part of Indian culture and the Central government should frame laws accordingly.

โ€œThe cow has been shown as an important part in Indiaโ€™s ancient texts like the Vedas and the Mahabharata that define Indian culture and for which India is known,โ€ the 12-page order further read.

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โ€œIn view of the circumstances, the cow should be declared the national animal and cow-protection should be part of the fundamental rights of the Hindu community because we know that when a countryโ€™s culture and faith get hurt, the country becomes weak,โ€ he said.

Justice Yadav said the central government should table a bill in Parliament to give fundamental rights to cows and strict laws should be enacted to punish those harming the animal.

The 59-year-old man was arrested and jailed in March this year for allegedly slaughtering a cow.

The court said the accused, Javed, had stolen the cow, killed and beheaded it and kept its meat.

The court added that he had committed a similar offence earlier too.