After Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha parliamentarian Maneka Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), accusing the organization of being the ‘biggest cheat’ in the country and alleging that ISKCON sells cows from their gaushalas (cowsheds) to butchers, the issue has sparked a debate.
The video containing her remarks has been widely viewed and shared by netizens, many of whom are calling for a government investigation into the matter.
What Maneka Gandhi stated: Maneka Gandhi stated, “The biggest cheat in India today is ISKCON. They establish gaushalas for which they receive unlimited benefits from the government to run them. They acquire vast tracts of land…everything. I recently visited their Anantpur Gaushala. There isn’t a single dry cow present; all of them are dairy cows. There is not a single calf, which suggests that all of them were sold. ISKCON is selling all its cows to butchers,” as heard in the viral video.
It’s worth noting that a dry cow is one that has not been milked.
She further mentioned, “…They claim their entire livelihood depends on milk… Perhaps no one has sold as many cattle to butchers as they have. If these people can do it, what about others?”
ISKCON’s response: In response to the viral video, ISKCON spokesperson Yudhistir Govinda Das refuted Maneka Gandhi’s statements, describing them as ‘unsubstantiated’ and ‘false’. The temple authority expressed surprise at Gandhi’s claims and stated, “ISKCON has been a pioneer in cow protection in many parts of the world where beef is a staple diet. In India, ISKCON operates over 60 gaushalas, safeguarding hundreds of sacred cows and bulls and providing personalized care for their entire lifetimes. Many of the cows currently residing in ISKCON’s gaushalas were rescued after being abandoned, injured, or saved from slaughter.”
The statement added, “Recently, ISKCON has initiated training programs for farmers and rural households on cow care techniques to revive the culture of cow worship and care, as was the tradition in previous generations. Several ISKCON gaushalas have received recognition and praise for their high standards of cow care from the government and affiliated gaushala associations.”
Congress’s response: Vijay Thottathil, INC Overseas Coordinator, shared Maneka Gandhi’s video on X (formerly Twitter) and remarked, “This is significant because these allegations are being made by a former central minister of the BJP, none other than Maneka Gandhi! Where are the cow vigilantes? Are they not monitoring ISKCON’s activities? Will the government investigate these allegations?”
Other reactions: R. Vijaya Sankar, editor of the AIDEM group, wrote on X, “Now that Maneka Gandhi has openly accused ISKCON of giving away cows to butchers, will PETA sue the organization? And where are the ‘gau rakshaks’? Singing Hare Rama Hare Krishna in the company of ISKCON members?”
Rakhi Das commented, “If a sitting MP from the ruling BJP is making public statements, she must be doing so responsibly, so her allegations should not be dismissed by the BJP or anyone else and should be thoroughly investigated. #ManekaGandhi #ISCKON #BJP4IND.”
