It’s cow and cow urine which seem to be dominating BJP’s electoral plank in the Hindu-dominated Uttarakhand. If the party retains power, it will now only promote “gau mutra ark” (cow urine distillate). In addition to medicine, the products range from cow dung toothpaste, detergents and aftershave.
The BJP also promises to revive the Lal Sindhi cow (a milch breed). For the party, this indigenous cow is one of the best milch breed. And of course a commission will be set up to look into the complaints of atrocities against cows.
The BJP government, sources said, is also in touch with various ashrams and akharas in the state, including Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Yogpeeth, for cow urine distiller production which is said to have medicinal properties. The BJP government in the state has recently set up an institute near Rishikesh for cow research. At a time when anti-incumbency factor is looming large on the current BJP government in the state, the party wants to woo voters by stoking their faith. It could be recalled that the Sangh parivar fountainhead, RSS had carried out a ‘Vishwamangal Gau Gram Yatra” in 2009 for spreading message against cow slaughter and their protection.
However, other issues too find a place in the party’s election manifesto released at Uttarakhan on Monday. The manifesto also mentions how the BJP government has fulfilled most of its promises of the 2007, including power generation, providing potable water in rural areas, primary schools, health centres, 100 per cent enrolment in primary schools and industrialisation. The manifesto has also mentioned the “success” of 2010 “Mahakumbh”, for which Opposition parties had attacked former chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank over financial irregularities in its preparations. Mr Nishank had to be removed by the party’s top brass and replaced by current CM B.C. Khanduri.