Actor Naseeruddin Shah recently sparked outrage by claiming the Uttar Pradesh government cared more about cows than cops dying. It would seem that the government similarly prioritises farmers.
Farmers in Bulandshahr have been rendered sleepless by stray cattle. The animals keep destroying their crops. According to reports, they have been staying up nights at their farms in the frosty winter, waiting in groups and keeping vigil.
Speaking to Navbharat Times, farmers in Bulandshahr said that the cow population is out of control. Old cows who no longer produce milk and old bulls who can no longer work in farms are left to roam the streets according to them. These animals have been destroying their crops day and night.
The farmers say that they are afraid to catch hold of the bovine animals, worried that they might fall victim to cow protection laws in Uttar Pradesh. They have no choice but to spend nights in the cold open air — if their crops got destroyed, the only option they would have is suicide.
Farmers in Bulandshahr are spending nights at their farms protecting crops from being destroyed by stray cattle. A farmer says,”Our crops are being damaged regularly. We are very much worried.” pic.twitter.com/8yIQufa0Nk
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 27, 2018
Farmers in Aligarh, too, face a similar problem. According to ANI, around 700-800 stray cows were kept locked inside a government school and primary health centre in Gorai by farmers on Dec 24 and 25 for destroying crops. A farmer told the news agency, “The cows are destroying crops. We’ve been demanding cow shelters from govt, but no action was taken.”
CB Singh, the district magistrate of Aligarh, speaking to ANI, said, “We’ve received complaints that villagers locked stray cows in school and health centre. I have directed SDM to visit Gorai. Village heads will be given responsibility to solve the issue. We are in the process of constructing cow shelters in various villages.”
The cow-protection hullabaloo raised by the Uttar Pradesh government is coming back to bite its citizens and even the state administration. AK Sahni, the SSP of Aligarh said that when the administration was transporting stray cows to shelters, a few people attacked the vehicles. Allegedly, rumours had been spread through WhatsApp that cows were being taken for slaughter. Two cases have so far been filed in this regard, and four people have been arrested. The SSP said that a probe was underway.
Aligarh: Around 700-800 stray cows were kept locked inside a govt school & primary health centre in Gorai by farmers on Dec 24&25 for destroying crops. A farmer says,”The cows are destroying crops. We’ve been demanding cow shelters from govt but no action is being taken.” (26.12) pic.twitter.com/zh3qCD8TDo
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 27, 2018
CB Singh, DM Aligarh: We’ve received complaints that villagers locked stray cows in school&health centre. I have directed SDM to visit Gorai. Village heads will be given responsibility to solve the issue. We are in the process of constructing cow shelters in various villages.” pic.twitter.com/3zTCFg8gtk
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 27, 2018
SSP Aligarh AK Sahni: Administration was transporting the stray cows to shelters when few people attacked the vehicles as rumours were spread through WhatsApp that cows were being taken to be slaughtered.2 cases filed in this regard&4 people have been arrested. Further probe on” pic.twitter.com/ZtdJYb4TFR
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 27, 2018
At the heart of the problem, of course, lies the surge of cow-related violence in Uttar Pradesh. The attacks on the administration trying to transport cows, and the fear of farmers, both stem out of the malaise of Gau Raksha. But one has little expectation from the Yogi Adityanath-led U.P. government. After all, it was in Bulandshahr that a mob of Hindu activists clashed with cops over cow carcasses, which led to the death of a police officer — yet little has been done to prevent transgressions such as these in the future.