MEERUT: A day after senior Samajwadi Party leader and UP cabinet minister Mohammed Azam Khan demanded burial grounds for cows; he received a cow as a gift from his friend Swami Adhokshjanand Devtirath, the Shankaracharya of Puri.

Speaking to TOI on Monday, Khan said, “The Shankaracharya has an ashram in Mathura. Around seven months ago, I was invited as the chief guest to the foundation-laying ceremony of a cow-shelter at his ashram. After the ceremony, the Shankaracharya and I spoke at length about the value of the cow for our society. That was when I told him that I was interested in providing a good home for a cow. I said I wanted a black cow because I had heard somewhere that the milk of a black cow has the most vitamins. He promised me that he would soon find me such a cow. On Monday, I received a letter along with the most beautiful black cow. It was from the Shankaracharya. He wrote in the letter that he had not forgotten what I had said and he was making good on his promise to me. I was touched at such a wonderful gesture from a person of such esteem.”

In a reference to an incident where his buffaloes had been stolen, Khan said, “I have several buffaloes and I am famous for it now. Even the PM knows I rear buffaloes. He seemed very concerned when I had lost them. By the grace of God, they came back to me. Now I am glad that I have a cow in my home as well. It is a beautiful cow, with skin as smooth as silk. I am honored to provide a home for it.”

When asked about the BJP’s allegations that his government was soft on cow-slaughter, he said, “I am completely opposed to cow-slaughter. Even the Prophet Mohammed had said that the meat of a cow was bad but its milk was good for us. So why would I ever be soft on those who indulge in such acts? Those who are self-proclaimed protectors of the cow should ensure that cows do not die after leading miserable lives on the streets and eating garbage. They should be sensitive instead of making it a political issue. Cows should be treated like mothers and be buried with full honors when they pass away.”

Read this story in Hindi: शंकराचार्य ने आजम को गिफ्ट किया गाय-बछड़ा