Husain Dalwai: Muslims not bound to call cow 'mother' amid national animal debate
Synopsis
In a rare triangular debate, Congress leader Husain Dalwai has pushed back against calls — including from some Muslim clerics — to treat the cow as a national mother figure. With Yogi Adityanath asserting 'Gomata is Rashtramata' and clerics from Ajmer to Kolkata demanding a national animal declaration, the cow question is fracturing along unexpected lines within the Muslim community itself.
Key Takeaways
Congress leader Husain Dalwai stated on Tuesday that Muslims are not obliged to accept the cow as a mother figure.
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath declared at a gathering in Bijnor that the cow is 'Gomata' and 'self-proclaimed Rashtramata.' Clerics from Ajmer Dargah Sharif , Kolkata's Nakhoda Masjid , and Delhi's Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah urged Muslims to refrain from cow sacrifice during Eid-ul-Azha .
Syed Sarwar Chishti of Ajmer called on PM Modi to convene Parliament for a national animal declaration and beef export ban.
All India Jamiatul Quresh demanded a ban on beef-export companies, with working president Mohammad Javed Qureshi citing illegal cattle slaughter.
Clerics also flagged rising cow vigilantism and alleged harassment of cattle traders by vigilante groups.
Congress leader Husain Dalwai on Tuesday declared that while individuals may personally regard the cow as a mother, Muslims are under no obligation to adopt that belief — a statement that adds a fresh political dimension to the ongoing debate over granting the cow the status of 'national animal' in India.
What Dalwai Said
Speaking to reporters, Dalwai said, “Earlier, the cow was referred to as a state animal, and now it is being called a mother. Even if Muslims take a step back, there is still an attempt to push them further. You may call the cow a mother, but we consider it an important animal of this country and a state animal. What is wrong with that?”
He also drew a pointed comparison: “We call India ‘Bharat Mata.’ However, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Israel, he reportedly referred to Israel as our fatherland. Such statements do not make sense.” Dalwai's remarks underline a broader anxiety within sections of the Muslim community that successive symbolic demands are functioning as a ratchet — each concession met with a new one.
Yogi Adityanath's Position
The remarks came in direct response to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who, addressing a gathering in Bijnor recently, said, “Cow is our mother. We share the same bond with her as we have with our mothers. There is nothing to prove here, and this relation needs no name or status.” The Chief Minister added, “Gomata is the self-proclaimed Rashtramata; there’s no need to declare her to anyone.”
Muslim Clerics Who Backed National Animal Status
Notably, CM Yogi's assertion was itself prompted by an unexpected quarter — prominent Muslim clerics who, around Bakrid, called for the cow to be declared a national animal. Their stated rationale: such a declaration would discourage cattle slaughter and elevate the animal’s sanctity.
Among those who raised the demand were clerics associated with Ajmer Dargah Sharif, Kolkata's Nakhoda Masjid, and Delhi's Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah. Ajmer's Syed Sarwar Chishti specifically urged PM Modi to convene Parliament to declare the cow a national animal, ban slaughter, and halt beef exports.
The All India Jamiatul Quresh also demanded a ban on beef-export companies and national animal status for cows. The outfit’s working president, Mohammad Javed Qureshi, claimed that beef export companies were profiting through illegal cattle slaughter and that such restrictions hurt livestock farmers.
Vigilantism Concerns
Even as some clerics backed the demand, others raised concerns over rising cow vigilantism. Several religious leaders flagged alleged harassment of cattle traders by self-styled vigilante groups operating outside the law — a tension that runs beneath the surface of the broader symbolic debate.
What This Signals
The episode illustrates a rare internal divergence within Muslim public discourse on the cow question, with clerics and political leaders staking out opposing positions. As the national animal debate gathers pace, the fault lines are no longer simply between communities but within them.
Point of View
But it risks deflecting from a substantive question: whether symbolic religious demands, however incremental, are being used to reshape the terms of citizenship. The vigilantism concern, raised even by clerics who backed the national animal demand, is the thread that mainstream coverage has largely left unpulled.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Husain Dalwai say about the cow and Muslims?
Congress leader Husain Dalwai said that while some people may consider the cow a mother, Muslims are not obliged to share that belief. He argued that treating the cow as an important national animal — as it has been described — is sufficient and reasonable.
Why did Yogi Adityanath make the 'Gomata is Rashtramata' statement?
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath made the statement at a gathering in Bijnor in response to calls — including from Muslim clerics around Bakrid — to declare the cow a national animal. He said the cow's status as mother needs no formal declaration.
Which Muslim clerics supported the national animal demand for cows?
Clerics associated with Ajmer Dargah Sharif, Kolkata's Nakhoda Masjid, and Delhi's Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah urged Muslims to avoid cow sacrifice during Eid-ul-Azha. Ajmer's Syed Sarwar Chishti specifically asked PM Modi to convene Parliament for a national animal declaration and beef export ban.
What is the All India Jamiatul Quresh's position on cow slaughter?
The All India Jamiatul Quresh demanded a ban on beef-export companies and national animal status for cows. Working president Mohammad Javed Qureshi claimed beef exporters were profiting through illegal cattle slaughter, adding that such restrictions also hurt livestock farmers.
What concerns have been raised about cow vigilantism in this debate?
Even clerics who backed the national animal demand raised concerns about self-styled cow vigilante groups allegedly harassing cattle traders and taking the law into their own hands — a parallel issue that has drawn criticism from religious leaders across the spectrum.
