Cow as national animal will end hate politics, says Jamiat chief Arshad Madani
Synopsis
A top Muslim cleric has called for the cow to be made India's national animal — not as a concession, but as a challenge. Jamiat chief Arshad Madani argues a uniform national law on cow protection would strip away the political cover that enables mob lynchings and communal violence targeting Muslims, exposing what he calls the 'double standards' of BJP leaders and cow vigilante groups alike.
Key Takeaways
Maulana Syed Arshad Madani , president of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind , called for the cow to be declared India's 'national animal' on 20 May .
He argued a uniform national law applied equally across all states would end mob lynchings and hate politics targeting Muslims.
Madani alleged double standards — beef sold openly in some states while Muslims face attacks in others.
He questioned certain BJP leaders who have reportedly admitted on camera to consuming beef while remaining silent on vigilante violence.
Madani also serves as Vice President of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) .
Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind president Maulana Syed Arshad Madani on Wednesday called for the cow to be declared the 'national animal' of India, arguing that such a move would deliver a permanent end to mob lynchings, communal hate politics, and targeted attacks against the Muslim minority community. The senior cleric made the remarks via a post on X, questioning why the government had not yet acted on the proposal.
The Core Demand
Madani, who also serves as Vice President of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), stated that the majority community regards the cow not merely as sacred but as a maternal figure. Drawing on that sentiment, he argued that formally enshrining the animal's status in law — and applying that law uniformly across all states without discrimination — would remove the political pretext for vigilante violence.
'Mob lynchings in the name of the cow, the killing of innocent people, hate politics, and this game of defaming Muslims must now come to an end,' he said in his post.
Double Standards Allegation
The Jamiat chief alleged a pattern of selective enforcement, pointing out that states with significant Muslim populations reportedly see repeated attacks on minorities, while beef is sold openly in several other parts of the country. He described this as 'not devotion but a double standard and political manoeuvring.'
Madani also questioned the conduct of certain Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and ministers who have, according to him, admitted on camera to consuming beef, while those who carry out mob violence in the name of cow protection remain silent on the contradiction.
Why It Matters
Incidents of mob lynching linked to alleged cow slaughter or beef transportation have been a recurring flashpoint in communal relations across India over the past decade. Critics and rights groups have consistently flagged the role of cow vigilante groups in targeting Muslim individuals, arguing that law enforcement responses have been uneven.
This comes amid broader concerns about the rise of hate speech and communal polarisation ahead of electoral cycles. Madani's proposal — unusual in that it comes from a prominent Muslim leader rather than from Hindu nationalist quarters — is being read by observers as a strategic appeal to the government to either act decisively or acknowledge the political nature of the violence.
What Madani Wants Next
Beyond the symbolic declaration, Madani pressed for a uniform national law that would apply the same standards on cow protection in every state, removing the current patchwork of state-level rules that critics argue enables selective enforcement. He emphasised that no human life should be lost over religion-based politics and called for a permanent resolution to communal divide.
Whether the government responds to the proposal — or whether it gains traction across political parties — will be closely watched in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
He is daring the government to either commit to uniform enforcement or concede that the current regime of selective protection is political theatre. The proposal exposes a genuine contradiction: if cow protection is a matter of national reverence, the law must apply in BJP-governed and non-BJP-governed states alike, including to leaders who consume beef. What mainstream coverage often misses is that this is less a theological concession and more a legal trap — one that tests whether the government's cow politics is about the animal or about the community it is used to target.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Jamiat chief Arshad Madani demand regarding the cow?
Maulana Syed Arshad Madani demanded that the cow be declared India's 'national animal' and that a uniform law on cow protection be applied across all states without discrimination. He argued this would permanently end mob lynchings and hate politics targeting Muslims.
Why did Madani make this demand?
Madani cited rising incidents of mob lynching and hate-filled attacks against Muslims, allegedly carried out by cow vigilante groups, as the reason for his demand. He described polarising politics around the cow as the 'root cause' of these incidents.
What double standards did Madani allege?
Madani alleged that beef is sold openly in many parts of India while Muslims in states with significant Muslim populations face repeated attacks. He also questioned BJP leaders who have reportedly admitted on camera to consuming beef while staying silent on vigilante violence.
Where did Madani make these remarks?
Madani shared his views in a post on social media platform X on Wednesday, 20 May, addressing both the government and the public on the issue of communal violence and cow politics.
Who is Maulana Syed Arshad Madani?
Maulana Syed Arshad Madani is the president of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, one of India's largest Islamic clerical bodies, and also serves as Vice President of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB). He is a prominent voice on issues affecting the Muslim community in India.
