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.
“The cow has been shown as an important part in India’s ancient texts like the Vedas and the Mahabharata that define Indian culture and for which India is known,” the 12-page order further read.
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“In 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 country’s culture and faith get hurt, the country becomes weak,” 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.