Rambhadracharya backs Yogi on 'Gau Mata', demands end to cow slaughter
Synopsis
Jagadguru Rambhadracharya has thrown his weight behind CM Yogi Adityanath's 'Gau Mata' remarks and gone a step further — demanding 370 Hindutva seats in the Lok Sabha by 2029 to legislate a cow slaughter ban. The statement signals how a religious endorsement is being directly tied to electoral mobilisation ahead of the next general election.
Key Takeaways
Jagadguru Rambhadracharya on 2 June backed CM Yogi Adityanath's description of the cow as a mother figure, calling him 'absolutely right.' Yogi Adityanath made the original remarks at a programme in Bijnor , where land certificates were distributed to over 1,600 families .
Rambhadracharya called for an end to cow slaughter and demanded 370 Lok Sabha seats for Hindutva supporters by 2029 to achieve it.
He dismissed opposition objections as 'largely political' and claimed to have studied the Constitution.
The spiritual leader also expressed confidence in BJP's return to power in Uttar Pradesh and criticised the previous government in West Bengal .
Spiritual leader Jagadguru Rambhadracharya on Tuesday, 2 June voiced strong support for Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's recent remarks describing the cow as a mother figure, saying the Chief Minister was 'absolutely right.' Rambhadracharya also called for a complete end to cow slaughter and argued that political will — specifically a Hindutva majority in Parliament — would be essential to achieving it.
What Yogi Adityanath Said
The Chief Minister's remarks were made during a gathering in Bijnor, where he was addressing a programme for the distribution of land ownership certificates to more than 1,600 families, including those displaced from Pakistan and former soldiers. Yogi Adityanath said, 'The cow is our mother. We share the same bond with her as we do with our mothers. There is nothing to prove here, and this relationship needs no name or status.'
He further stated that 'Gau Mata is self-proclaimed Rashtramata' and that no formal declaration was needed to establish that status.
Rambhadracharya's Backing and Political Demand
Reacting to the Chief Minister's comments, Jagadguru Rambhadracharya said, 'Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is absolutely right. A mother is a mother. Whatever controversy is being created around this issue is purely political.'
He went further, calling for the end of cow slaughter and linking it to electoral outcomes. 'We want cow slaughter to end. For that, there should be 370 seats in the Lok Sabha for people who believe in Hindutva. I believe this can happen by 2029,' he said. Claiming familiarity with constitutional matters, Rambhadracharya added, 'I have studied and memorised the Constitution. The opposition to these ideas is largely political.'
Remarks on Uttar Pradesh and Beyond
The spiritual leader expressed confidence in the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) prospects in Uttar Pradesh, saying, 'The lotus will bloom in Uttar Pradesh once again.' He also praised the governance of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, asserting that conditions in the state had improved under his leadership.
Referring to West Bengal, Rambhadracharya criticised the previous state government and claimed that during his visits there, he felt uncomfortable with the prevailing conditions.
On Encounters and Other Reactions
Responding to remarks by Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi regarding police encounters, Rambhadracharya said, 'Encounters are not carried out after asking someone's religion. Action is taken based on crime.' He also dismissed a protest called by the founder of the Cockroach Janata Party, calling it 'useless and ridiculous' and predicting it would have no impact.
This comes amid a broader national debate over the legal and constitutional status of the cow, a recurring flashpoint between religious conservatives and opposition parties ahead of the 2029 general elections.
Point of View
Blurring the line between spiritual authority and campaign strategy. Yogi Adityanath's original remarks in Bijnor were themselves made at a civic event, suggesting the cow-as-mother framing is being deployed as a consistent political signal rather than a one-off statement. Critics will note that similar religious-nationalist consolidation ahead of state and national elections has historically intensified communal fault lines without producing the legislative outcomes promised.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Jagadguru Rambhadracharya say about CM Yogi's 'Gau Mata' remarks?
Rambhadracharya said CM Yogi Adityanath was 'absolutely right' in describing the cow as a mother figure, adding that any controversy around the issue was 'purely political.' He also called for a complete ban on cow slaughter in India.
What did CM Yogi Adityanath say about the cow at the Bijnor event?
At a programme in Bijnor for distributing land certificates to over 1,600 families, Yogi Adityanath said the cow holds the same place as a mother in Indian society and that 'this relationship needs no name or status.' He also stated that 'Gau Mata is self-proclaimed Rashtramata.'
What is Rambhadracharya's demand regarding cow slaughter and elections?
Rambhadracharya demanded 370 Lok Sabha seats for Hindutva supporters by 2029, saying that level of political majority would be needed to legislate a ban on cow slaughter. He expressed confidence that this electoral outcome was achievable.
What did Rambhadracharya say about police encounters?
Responding to Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi's remarks on police encounters, Rambhadracharya said encounters are based on criminal activity, not religion, stating: 'Action is taken based on crime.'
Why is the 'Gau Mata' debate politically significant ahead of 2029?
The debate over formally recognising the cow as a national mother figure has been a recurring flashpoint between religious conservatives and opposition parties. With Rambhadracharya explicitly linking the issue to electoral targets for 2029, it signals an early attempt to use the cow-protection plank as a Hindutva consolidation tool ahead of the next general election.
