Chhattisgarh BJP leader Harish Verma has blamed his party for the death of several cows at his government-aided gaushala in the state’s Durg district.

Verma was arrested on 19 August after the Chhattisgarh Rajya Gau Sewa Aayog lodged an FIR alleging that a lack of proper facilities at Verma’s cow shelter had led to the deaths.

Speaking to reporters after his arrest, Verma blamed the BJP-led state government for not providing him with enough funds to take care of the cows in his shelter. He said that the cow shelter was housing 400 cows more than its estimated capacity.

He told The Indian Express: