Kamal Nath writes to MP CM over 90+ cattle deaths at Chhindwara gaushala
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Congress leader Kamal Nath on Monday, 28 July wrote to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, raising alarm over the reported deaths of more than 90 cattle within a month at the Adarsh Gaushala in Chhindwara, and pressing the state government to take immediate corrective action on cattle welfare and gaushala management.
What the Letter Says
The former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister cited media reports indicating that around 43 cattle died in the first 19 days of July alone, with the cumulative death toll reportedly crossing 90 within a month. Nath also flagged that veterinary doctors and support staff were allegedly not present at the facility on a regular basis during this period.
'The death of a large number of cattle within a short period at the Adarsh Gaushala in Chhindwara is extremely tragic and a matter of serious concern. It raises serious questions over the arrangements for cattle protection in the state,' Nath said in the letter.
Core Concerns Raised
Nath, who represents the Chhindwara Assembly seat, underscored that cattle are central to India's culture, faith, and rural economy, and that gaushalas exist specifically to protect them. He said reports pointing to deaths caused by inadequate fodder, lack of clean drinking water, and insufficient medical care amounted to a grave institutional failure.
He urged Chief Minister Yadav to issue directions to strengthen cattle care protocols across all state-run gaushalas and ensure the incident at Chhindwara is not repeated elsewhere.
What Nath Is Demanding
'I request you to give serious consideration to this highly sensitive issue and take the necessary and effective decisions so that such tragic incidents do not recur and every gaushala in the state is provided with proper care, treatment and essential facilities,' Nath wrote.
Specifically, he called on the government to guarantee adequate fodder supplies, clean drinking water, regular veterinary services, and full staffing at gaushalas across Madhya Pradesh.
Wider Context
The Adarsh Gaushala deaths come at a politically sensitive moment — cattle protection is a flagship issue for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Madhya Pradesh, and opposition scrutiny of gaushala conditions has intensified in recent months. Notably, this is not the first time that state-run or state-supported gaushalas in central India have drawn criticism over overcrowding, underfunding, and inadequate veterinary coverage. The letter adds pressure on the Yadav government to demonstrate that its cattle welfare commitments extend beyond policy announcements to on-ground implementation.
Chief Minister Yadav's office had not issued a formal response as of the time of reporting. How the state government responds is likely to shape the political narrative around cattle welfare in Chhindwara ahead of local administrative reviews.