It is unfortunate that some people are shocked when they hear words like 'Om' and 'cow', said Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He was speaking after launching the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP) for eradicating foot and mouth disease (FMD) and brucellosis in livestock in Mathura of Uttar Pradesh.
"Some people, when they hear words like 'gaay' (cow) and Om, their hair stands on end. They feel that the country has gone back to the 16th century,” the prime minister said, adding, “Can one talk about rural economy without animals.”
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With 100 per cent funding from the Union government till 2024, the Rs 12,652 crore NADCP programme aims at vaccinating over 500 million livestock, including cattle, sheep, goats and pigs, against FMD.
The programme has targeted vaccinating 36 million female bovine calves annually in its fight against brucellosis disease, a bacterial infection transmitted from animals to humans.
Reacting to PM Modi's claim, Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, chief of the All India Majlis e-Ittehadul Muslameen (AIMIM), said, "The cow is a sacred animal for our Hindu brothers but in the Constitution, the right to life and equality has been given to humans, I hope the PM will keep it in mind," according to NDTV.
Further, he claimed that the prime minister is trying to divert the attention of people from issues like economic crisis and unemployment by speaking about 'cow' and 'Om. He said Modi does not want to debate on joblessness and falling growth rate.
"He is bothered about the cow economy but not concerned about the country's economy," Owaisi was quoted as saying.
He also questioned Modi over the incidents of mob lynching reported after he took over as the prime minister.
(with PTI inputs)
