The back-to-back incidents in gaushalas in Bhopal and Indore in a month indicate that cows remain a poll issue in the state, but when it comes to its protection, there seems to be a gap between intent and implementation.
The authorities, however, say everything is in order. MP Gaupalan and Promotion Boardworking committee chairman Swami AkhileshwaranandGiricalled them isolated incidents and said they may occur due to carelessness in a cowshed or death due to old age. Efforts are made at every level for cow protection, he said.
There are around 1,625 cowsheds in the state while the governments target is 3,000. Around 1,000 gaushalas are run bygrampanchayats and the rest by NGOs Some 2.5 lakh cows are kept in gaushalas and cow sanctuaries in the state while the number of stray cows is around 5 lakhs.