On Eid, Muslim Groups Across India Demand Cow Be Declared National Animal

New Delhi- Several Muslim organizations and clerics across India, particularly in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and other states, have renewed calls for the cow to be declared India's national animal. The demand has gained prominence in the days leading up to Eid-ul-Azha (Bakrid), the Islamic festival involving animal sacrifice. Following Eid prayers in the capital, Delhi, some members from the Muslim community demanded that the cow be declared the national animal. Carrying large banners and placards, they expressed their views. They said the cow is an important symbol of Indian culture and faith. It should be designated as the national animal.

Maulana Arshad Madani, president of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind was among the first to have actively pushed this demand. Madani had previously raised it at an All-Faith Conference in Mumbai in 2014. He and others argue that granting the cow national animal status, along with strict nationwide laws against its slaughter and trade, would:

• Respect the sentiments of Hindus, for whom the cow holds deep cultural and religious significance.

• Bring uniformity to existing state-level cow protection laws.

• Help curb mob lynching incidents and politically motivated violence related to cow vigilantism.

• Promote communal harmony.

Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi, national president of the All India Muslim Jamaat, announced plans to convene a meeting of Muslim organizations in Delhi to draft a joint memorandum to be submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

On May 28, in Delhi and surrounding areas like Faridabad, participants carried large posters and banners after Eid prayers, demanding national animal status for the cow and an end to slaughterhouses.

Similar protests have been reported in Dehradun (Uttarakhand), Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) under the All India Muslim Tyohar Committee, Jaipur (Rajasthan), and parts of Uttar Pradesh. Participants described the cow as "Gau Mata" (Mother Cow) and emphasized its importance as a symbol of Indian culture.

The demand comes amid heightened sensitivities around Eid-ul-Azha, during which some Muslims traditionally sacrifice cows (though goats and sheep are more common). Several states have restrictions on cow slaughter, and cow protection is a politically charged issue often associated with Hindu nationalist groups and the BJP.

Declaring the cow the national animal could reduce tensions, prevent misuse of cow-related issues for political polarization, and foster better interfaith relations. Some Muslim leaders have also appealed to the community to avoid cow sacrifice during Eid to maintain harmony.

Some view the move as a political strategy or appeasement. Others within the Muslim community see it as potentially restricting religious freedoms related to Qurbani (sacrifice). The issue has sparked debate on social media and in political circles about faith, law, and cultural symbolism.