By Twocircles.net Special Correspondent
New Delhi: A seminar in Vigyan Bhawan to talk about government schemes to protect cows turned embarrassing for the government after Union Minister for Agriculture Radhamohan Singh and Environment Minister Prakash Javdekar were hooted and booed by a group of Gau Rakshaks.
The day-long programme was being organised in Vigyan Bhawan on the welfare of cows today on the second anniversary of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) victory in the Lok Sabha elections. Interestingly, Home minister Rajnath Singh, who was scheduled to be the Chief Guest, did not turn up for the seminar.
When Radhamohan Singh said the government had released Rs 582 crore for cow protection, many in the crowd stood up to ask: Where is the money? The protesters added that ministers were only interested in playing politics over cow and much less bothered about protecting the animal. The protesters also raised the issue of selling grazing land, saying that any scheme meant to protect cows will be of little use if there is grazing fields are sold.
In 2015, the Haryana government, in an effort to protect local cows, had said that no cow of recognized indigenous breed would be inseminated with exotic/crossbred semen from now on. However, protesters said the government policy is to promote foreign breeds. “Who will look after the local breeds?” asked one of the protesters.
The seminar was organised to discuss how to increase the milk production, provide nutritious feed and fodder to cows and how to make non-productive cows financially sustainable.