Key Points

Addressing the media at a press conference in Shimla on Wednesday afternoon, Shailendra Yogiraj Sarkar said that there is a need to withdraw the slaughter permission in some Indian states.

"We worship Gau Mata, but in some states, governments have legally permitted her slaughter. This contradiction must end. Our primary demand is to ban cow slaughter across India and to enact a central law declaring Gau Mata as Rashtra Mata." he said.

Shailendra Yogiraj Sarkar is currently on a nationwide Gau Dhwaj Parikrama and inspection tour, during which he is visiting sites where the Gau Dhwaj (cow flag) was established last year under the guidance of Shankaracharya Ji. The initiative aims to raise awareness and moral pressure on both state and central governments for cow protection.

He pointed out that this movement has already borne fruit in Maharashtra, where, following Shankaracharya Ji's visit and appeal, the Eknath Shinde-led government officially declared Gau Mata as the Rajya Mata (Mother of the State), passing legislation to that effect.

"Shankaracharya Ji toured all 36 states and Union Territories last year. He appealed to each state to declare Gau Mata as Rajya Mata. If more states follow, it will compel the central government to act." Sarkar told reporters in Shimla and reiterated the same while speaking to ANI later.

"If the Central Government talks of 'One Nation, One Constitution', then why can't there be one uniform law for Gau Mata's protection across communities? Gau Mata must be removed from the list of animals and granted the legal sanctity of motherhood through a central law." Said Sarkar.

As part of his campaign, Shailendra Yogiraj Sarkar is performing Gau Puja (worship of the cow) and Gau Dhwaj Aarti at each location where the sacred flag has been installed. He added that Shankaracharya Ji has instructed him personally to inspect the sites and prepare for the next phase of the campaign.

"Wherever the Gau Dhwaj has been established, I have been asked to go and perform the rituals. Shankaracharya Ji is expected to arrive in Himachal Pradesh soon, and I'm also here to assess preparations for his visit. We are meeting local people and mobilizing support." He said.

On the political front, Sarkar made it clear that the campaign would also influence electoral decisions.

"We are appealing to people to vote only for candidates,irrespective of their party, who promise to protect Gau Mata. Whether it is a Lok Sabha or a Vidhan Sabha election, we will support only those who commit to this cause." He added.

Also present was Narender Bhardwaj, Shankaracharya's representative in Himachal Pradesh. Speaking to the media, Bhardwaj recalled Shankaracharya Ji's last visit to Shimla.

"At that time, the Chief Minister was not present in Shimla. So Shankaracharya Ji had conveyed his message to the Chief Minister's wife and requested her to take concrete steps for cow protection. She assured that she would work towards declaring Gau Mata as Rajya Mata in Himachal too." Said Bhardwaj.

Bhardwaj added that with the Shankaracharya's upcoming visit to Himachal Pradesh, the campaign team would once again approach the Chief Minister's Office to renew this demand.

The Gau Dhwaj initiative, envisioned and established by Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, seeks not only to spiritually elevate the cow's status but to ensure her legal and constitutional protection as a revered symbol of Indian culture and dharma.

- ANI