The Rajasthan government is evaluating a proposal to designate cows as 'Raj Mata' (Mother of State) following a formal request from 31 MLAs, including BJP Chief Whip Jogeshwar Garg and BJP MLAs Gopal Sharma and Balmukund Acharya.
Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has acknowledged receiving the letter and assured that the matter is under review. The proposal comes two months after the launch of the 'Gau Dhwaj' movement in Jaipur, which advocated for elevating the status of cows at the state level.
Agriculture Minister Zora Ram Kumarawat referenced similar status granted to cows in Maharashtra. The state government has also recently prohibited the use of terms like 'stray cow,' suggesting alternative phrases such as 'helpless' instead.
Congress leader Sachin Pilot criticized the move, highlighting that the previous Congress government had allocated funds for cow welfare. He suggested the proposal might impact the livelihoods of meat traders and local businesses.
The initiative has sparked discussions about its economic implications, particularly regarding its potential effect on various sectors of local commerce and trade in Rajasthan.