India Today Impact: Rattled Rajasthan govt wakes up, orders probe into dying cows at govt cowsheds : India, News – India Today
The senior engineer who is responsible for the maintenance of the cowshed rushed to the spot today. Interestingly, it is for the first time in nearly six months that the official visited the cow shed.
The authorities responsible for the upkeep of the place have now got into action to remove muck spread across the sloppy, stinky compound.
There are close to 8,000 cows at the Higoniya Gau Shala. And close to 200 care takers who are responsible for feeding them. But for the last 5 months, the workers here have not been paid and for the last couple of weeks they have been on strike.
Indescribable stench permeates the air at Rajasthan’s biggest cow shelter as the animals, abandoned by their caretakers for almost two weeks, starve to death. As many as 90 cows at the state-run Hingonia shed have already perished in the past two days alone.
‘COW’ POLITICS TAKES CENTRESTAGE
While minister Rajendra Rathore, who holds the cow portfolio, claimed that Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has taken cognizance of the matter and is personally looking into the issue, Opposition Congress said the BJP regime is incapable of protecting cows.
“More than 3000 cows have died in Hingonia Gaushala. Every day more than 300 cows die at the gaushala. The BJP and RSS are responsible for it. This government cannot save cows at all,” Congress leader Pratap Singh told India Today.
Senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said,” I compliment India today and Aaj Tak for bringing this out. This is appalling. Gau seva is a sacred act which we perform. BJP and BJP ruled states have used from Lord Rama to mother cow for their own gains rather than anything else.”
“Two hundred cows have died in the last 10 days, action should be taken against the concerned minister in the state. The chief minister is also responsible for this. Criminal cases should be lodged against specific officials and workers who are responsible for all this,” Surjewala said.
He added that the Congress will raise the issue both inside and outside the House. If the Rajasthan government is not capable of taking care of the cows it should hand over the shed to voluntary organisations.
