Ansari backs Jamiat chief on declaring cow national animal; urges Muslims to shun cow slaughter on Eid

Former vice-president of India Hamid Ansari on Monday appealed to Muslims not to slaughter cows during Eid-ul-Azha and urged the Centre to heed Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind chief Maulana Arshad Madani's suggestion and declare cow as the national animal.

Ansari said nowhere is it written in religion that a cow has to be slaughtered, and asserted that anything that causes distress to fellow citizens must be avoided.

He said many people follow the practice of slaughtering an animal because that is in keeping with the edicts of religion.

''Now, whether it is a cow, a camel or a goat, it is a matter of detail. If people have an objection to a cow being slaughtered, we must find a way,'' Ansari told PTI Videos.

''Nowhere is it written that you must slaughter a cow; you can slaughter a goat also. It is up to the government of India to find a solution. It is a good suggestion that has been made. I want it to be given serious consideration.

''Maulana Arshad Madani is a serious figure in our social life, and he has made a proposal which should be considered,'' Ansari said on Madani's call for declaring the cow as the national animal.

Supporting Madani, Ansari said, ''I saw the statement of Maulana Arshad Madani. If this (cow slaughter) can be avoided, it should be avoided. Sacrifice does not only mean sacrificing a cow. You can also sacrifice a camel. You can sacrifice a goat as well.''.

If there is something that causes pain to fellow citizens, and if it can be avoided, why shouldn't it be avoided, he asked.

''Just as we have a national bird (peacock), the cow should be declared the national animal. There is no problem in making it the national animal,'' he said.

Ansari added, ''It is a suggestion. The government should consider it.''.

Asked about some fringe elements attacking animal traders and carriers, Ansari said, ''I am a constitutionalist. I know there is a Constitution. Whatever is written in that Constitution should be implemented. And whatever goes against it should be avoided.''.

Appealing for national unity and joint celebration of religious festivals, Ansari said, ''There are many festivals in India. There is Holi, there is Diwali. It is the duty of citizens to ensure that festivals do not lead to conflict or violence.''.

Ansari's remarks come days after Madani said that the cow should be granted the status of the national animal.

He said that Muslims would have no objection to this; rather, they would be pleased that mob lynching carried out in the name of the cow would come to an end.

Madani also questioned that when the majority of the country not only regards the cow as sacred but also accords it the status of a mother, what political compulsion is preventing the government from declaring it the national animal.

Muslims across the globe sacrifice animals as permitted by law in their respective countries as a symbol of the willingness and obedience to God that Prophet Ibrahim showed in offering his son Ismael as a sacrifice.

Eid-ul-Azha will celebrated in India on May 28.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)