Thiruvananthapuram, November 27: The Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP) today demanded that the Centre pass a legislation banning cow slaughter in the country.
Addressing a meeting in connection with the ‘Viswa Mangala Gograma Yatra’ that reached here this evening, VHP international general secretary Praveen Togadia alleged the government was not taking the initiative to pass such a law “as it does not respect the sentiments of Hindus.”
Provisions for stringent punishment should be incorporated in such a law to protect and respect the cow, he said.
The 108-day Yatra from Kurukshetra to Nagpur, spreading the message of protecting the well-being of cows, considered holy in the scriptures, began on September 28.
The Yatra is also aimed at creating awareness among the public on the role of cows in environmental protection and in making villages self-reliant.
The Yatra would traverse 10,000 km, attending 400 massive conferences across the country.
–Agencies