Former Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi litigant Iqbal Ansari and several prominent Hindu seers on 21 May voiced support for a proposal by Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind President Maulana Syed Arshad Madani that the cow be accorded the status of national animal in India. The rare cross-community convergence, centred in Ayodhya, drew attention for its breadth of backing across religious lines.

What Iqbal Ansari Said

Ansari, widely known for his role in the decades-long Babri Masjid dispute, said the sentiment toward the cow deserved reciprocal respect. 'If our Hindu neighbour calls the cow 'Gau Mata,' then it is our duty to do the same,' he said.

On the upcoming Bakrid festival, Ansari stated that there is no religious sanction for cow sacrifice. 'Nowhere is there a mention about cows being sacrificed, and it should not take place either, because Allah and the Prophet have prohibited it,' he said. He further urged Muslims to refrain from eating beef and called on the government to formally declare the cow as India's national animal. 'We will follow the law,' he added, affirming that animals prohibited by law must not be used for qurbani (ritualistic sacrifice).

Hindu Seers Echo the Call

Mahant Deveshacharya Maharaj of Siddh Peeth Hanuman Garhi described the cow as the backbone of Sanatan Dharma, asserting that no worship in the Sanatan tradition is complete without the Panchagavya — the five sacred elements derived from the cow. He alleged that despite this sanctity, cows continue to be slaughtered and that 'Hindus are teased.' He urged the Centre and state governments to accept the cow as the national animal.

Arya Sant Varun Das Maharaj went further, appealing directly to the Muslim community. 'Muslims of the country themselves should come forward and support this step. Not even a single drop of cow's blood should be shed on the land of India,' he said. He also invoked the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny, recalling how Mangal Pandey sparked a revolution after learning that gun cartridges were reportedly greased with cow fat and pig fat — a historical episode that underscores the depth of sentiment around the cow in Indian consciousness.

Ram Janmabhoomi Trust Coordinator Weighs In

Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust Coordinator Sharad Sharma asserted that no other animal is deserving of the status of a mother. He also called for strict nationwide legislation prohibiting cow slaughter, adding weight to demands that have periodically surfaced in political and religious discourse.

Context and Significance

Currently, the Bengal tiger holds the designation of India's national animal, a status it has held since 1973. The tiger replaced the lion following Project Tiger's launch that year. Any change to the national animal designation would require a formal government decision. Notably, several Indian states already have cow protection laws of varying stringency, but a unified national framework has remained elusive. This latest push, unusually backed by a senior Muslim cleric and a former Muslim litigant in the Ayodhya case, adds a new dimension to a debate that has long been dominated by Hindu nationalist voices. How the government responds — if at all — remains to be seen.