Charity begins at home: Maha CM Fadnavis brings back cow, calf at official residence

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has always been an ardent advocate of cattle protection. After the state-wide ban on cow slaughter and establishment of a cow progeny protection board, he has now gone a step further by keeping a cow at his own house. Fadnavis is rearing a cow and calf at Varsha, his official residence in Mumbai’s Malabar Hill, says a Times of India report. [caption id=“attachment_2152499” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis. PTI[/caption] He was quoted in the report saying, “I have taken up the cause for conservation of cow and its progeny. I brought the cattle from Nilanga in Latur district. Since the cow was unable to adjust here, the animal has been sent back to Nilanga, but she will be soon back at Varsha.” In keeping with the adage of charity begins at home, the CM said, “I have set an example for people from all sections.” The report also says that Fadnavis’s step of rearing a cow at home will result in other ministers following suit. A BJP minister was quoted as saying, “If Fadnavis succeeds in his mission, then the BJP government may it mandatory for all cabinet members, legislators and MPs to shelter cows.” This isn’t the first time that Fadnavis has spoken strongly about cow protection. Last month, at a vent organised to felicitate him on banning cow slaughter, he had said, " Cow and its progeny is important in terms of milk, urine and cow dung. I don’t look at prevention of cow slaughter from a religious point of view, but scientifically… which has got approval of the Constitution of India." Earlier after the Bombay High Court refused to stay the ban on beef, Fadnavis had said that cow slaughter should be looked at as more than beef. “Don’t look at prevention of cow slaughter just as beef ban. Cow is a live animal and has emotions. One can’t see cow in an insensitive manner like just beef,” he was quoted as saying.