Spiritual leader Swami Avimukteshwaranand on Wednesday sharpened his attack on the Uttar Pradesh government over the issue of cow protection, claiming that public frustration over the condition of stray cattle is rapidly turning into a major political issue ahead of future elections.
Speaking during the ongoing “Gavishti Yatra” in Banda, the seer said the campaign, which started from Gorakhpur on May 3, has already travelled across more than 118 Assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh to assess the ground situation related to cow welfare.
‘Reality Different From Government Claims’
Questioning the state government’s claims regarding cow shelters and welfare schemes, Swami Avimukteshwaranand alleged that the actual situation on the ground paints a worrying picture.
“The government says enough work is being done and huge funds are being allocated, but what we saw during the yatra was completely different. Cows are suffering, neglected and dying,” he said.
The seer claimed that despite large budget allocations, stray cattle continue to face hardship in villages and urban areas, creating anger among farmers and local residents.
Cow Protection Emerging as Political Issue
The spiritual leader also linked the issue directly to electoral politics, saying many people are now willing to vote based on cow protection rather than traditional development issues.
“Thousands of people have pledged that this time they will not vote on electricity, water or roads, but on the issue of cow protection. That is the biggest issue before us,” he stated.
He further said that leaders who truly support “Sanatan values” must take stronger action to stop cow slaughter and improve protection measures.
Debate Over Stray Cattle Intensifies in Uttar Pradesh
The remarks come at a time when the issue of stray cattle continues to remain politically sensitive in Uttar Pradesh. Farmers in several districts have repeatedly raised concerns over crop damage caused by abandoned cattle, while opposition parties have also questioned the effectiveness of government-run cow shelters.
