Uttarakhand CM denies talking about cow slaughter
Dehradun:
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Friday refuted media reports which
quoted him as saying that those who slaughter cows are the country's
"biggest enemies" and they had "no right to live in the
country.
I am deeply hurt on reading such a false and baseless news
in the media. We have been talking of progressive thoughts all our life, on
secularism and taking everyone along," he told reporters here.
I said nothing on cow slaughter. I spoke only about the
incentives being given towards the conservation of cows and Ganga, and what the
state government is doing to link cows with rural economy," he said while
referring to an event in Haridwar yesterday where he is supposed to have made
the remarks.
I
am a responsible (Congress) party worker with connections and influence in all
sections and I can never make such an irresponsible statement," Rawat
said.
Media
reports yesterday quoted Rawat as having said at an event in Haridwar that
those who slaughter cows are the country's "biggest enemies" and that
they had "no right to live in the country".
The
so-called news is totally wrong and far from truth... In that Gopashtami
function, leave aside Harish Rawat, no one else also used such language
there," the Chief Minister said.
He
said he had mentioned that there is a law to protect cows and those who made
this law stressed on protection and "our government is also linking cow to
people's economy".
He
added, "We have started Ganga-Cow Yojna. We are the first state in the
country which is giving bonus on milk production. I can also think of increasing
the bonus for such a dairy where only cows are reared. Any organisation or
person coming forward to protect old cows wants land, then I can think of a
plan for it also. So that an end be put to the damage to life and crops due to
wild animals."
Rawat
said he could give bonus on cowfeed (chara) production and has made ponds for
even wild animals that can be seen in Rajaji park.
We
are working to link cow protection with the economy," he said, adding
"I have a complaint with my BJP friends that they do not talk about the
good deeds done by our government."
When
a reporter said that the government had issued a press release that included
his remarks made at the function, Rawat said, "It is not to my knowledge.
The facts can be verified from Hansdev Acharya and Ramanand Acharya, under
whose chairmanship the function was held."
He
insisted that "I have not said anything of that kind. I have not stated
it. The question does not arise."
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