In a controversial statement, Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand said a live cow should have been taken inside the new Parliament building during its inauguration to bless the structure and those working within it. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, the seer questioned why a real cow was excluded when a statue of one and the Sengol sceptre featuring a cow image were part of the ceremony.
“If a statue of a cow can be inside Parliament, why not a living cow?” he asked. He warned that if the government fails to act, cow devotees from across the country would bring live cows to Parliament themselves.
The Sengol, held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the building’s inauguration, has since been placed in the Lok Sabha chamber.
Shankaracharya also urged the Maharashtra government to immediately formalise a protocol for cow respect, including specific guidelines and penalties for violations. He called for the creation of “Ramadhams” cow shelters housing 100 cows each in every assembly constituency across India. According to his plan, 4,123 such shelters would be established nationwide, focusing on the care and conservation of indigenous cow breeds.
He proposed financial support of ₹2 lakh per month for individuals who responsibly care for 100 cows under official norms.
The seer added that the Dharma Sansad has passed a resolution congratulating BJP MP Darshan Singh Chowdhary for advocating to declare the cow as “Rashtramata,” or Mother of the Nation. He urged voters to support only those political candidates who are committed to cow protection. He further criticised the government for failing to completely stop cow slaughter, saying, “Those in power cannot be called our brothers if they do not stand for cows.”
On the ongoing language debate, the Shankaracharya claimed that Hindi was the first language used in administration and that it includes many dialects, similar to Marathi. He also called for justice in the Malegaon blast case, stressing that all violence should be treated as a criminal act and the real perpetrators must be held accountable.
Criticising the Centre’s celebration of “Amrit Kaal,” he said, “It is absurd to celebrate while cows that give us milk are being slaughtered.”
