New Delhi: n a statement that has triggered political and ideological debate, Jamiat Ulema Hind chief Maulana Arshad Madani has demanded that the cow be granted the status of India’s “national animal,” saying such a move could help end violence and communal tensions linked to cow protection issues.
On social media platform X, Maulana Arshad Madani said that the majority of people in the country not only consider the cow sacred but also regard it as a mother figure. He questioned what political considerations were preventing the government from granting it the status of a national animal.
He alleged that the politics surrounding the cow has led to mob lynchings, killings of innocent people, and a broader campaign to malign Muslims, adding that such incidents must come to an end. He said that if the cow were declared the national animal, he would welcome the decision, as it could provide a “permanent solution” and ensure that no human life is lost in the name of religion.
Highlighting what he called inconsistencies in enforcement, Maulana Arshad Madani said that in some states beef is openly sold and consumed, yet there are no protests or incidents of violence, while in areas with significant Muslim populations, people are attacked in the name of cow protection. He described this as “not devotion but double standards and political manoeuvring.”
He also pointed to debates around the Uniform Civil Code, saying that while there is an argument that one nation should have one law, animal slaughter laws are not implemented uniformly across states. He further claimed that even a Union Minister has admitted to consuming beef, and questioned the silence of those who support or justify mob violence in the name of cow protection.
Maulana Madani reiterated that if the cow is declared a national animal and laws are implemented uniformly across all states without discrimination, the issue could be resolved permanently. He stressed that justice demands equal application of law and an end to the exploitation of religion for political purposes.
Declaring the cow as India’s “national animal” would largely be a symbolic move unless backed by specific legislation, as there is currently no constitutional provision mandating such a designation or defining its legal consequences. At present, cow protection already exists under Article 48 of the Constitution, which directs states to prevent slaughter of cows and improve animal husbandry. Several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, have strict cow slaughter laws, while the Supreme Court of India has upheld states’ authority to regulate cattle slaughter under the Constitution. Experts warn of significant challenges, including possible conflicts with the federal structure under the Seventh Schedule, impacts on food and livelihood-related rights under Article 19, and the risk of uneven enforcement across states. It could also trigger political and legal debates on whether such a status would be purely symbolic or enforceable through nationwide restrictions.