Jaisalmer: Several Muslim organisations across India have launched a campaign demanding that the cow be declared the country’s national animal. The movement gained momentum ahead of Bakrid after prominent Islamic scholar Maulana Arshad Madani called for official recognition of the cow as the national animal and urged the government to impose a complete ban on beef exports. As part of the campaign, signature drives are being conducted in different states, and memorandums addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu are being prepared for submission.

The initiative has received support from various Muslim leaders and organisations, including representatives from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Rajasthan. Supporters of the campaign argue that granting national animal status to the cow could help reduce political controversies surrounding cow slaughter and discourage incidents of mob violence carried out in its name. Several leaders have also stated that they are willing to meet senior government officials, including the Prime Minister, to present their demands and seek broader consensus on the issue.

The campaign has witnessed public demonstrations in multiple locations, including Delhi’s Seelampur area, where members of the Muslim community carried placards calling for the cow to be declared the national animal. Community leaders say the movement represents an effort to promote social harmony and address a long-standing issue through dialogue and constitutional means. Observers note that the campaign is significant because such demands have traditionally been associated with Hindu organisations, making this a rare instance of Muslim groups collectively advocating for the same cause.