New Delhi, May 21 (IANS) Maulana Sajid Rashidi on Thursday appealed for communal harmony and mutual respect between communities while criticising the growing use of hate-driven rhetoric in politics and society amid the ongoing cattle crisis in West Bengal.

Speaking to IANS, the All-India Imam Association President said many Muslims in Bengal had voluntarily refrained from buying cows as a mark of respect for Hindu religious beliefs.

“It has been seen that Muslims in Bengal chose not to buy cows, saying, ‘Hindus consider the cow as their mother, and we respect their faith,’ in an attempt to send a strong message of harmony and respect,” he said.

Rashidi said that if Hindus remained united and aware, the cow could eventually be declared the national animal. However, he warned against exploiting religion to provoke violence and division.

“The problem arises when people misuse faith, when riots are incited in the name of religion, when Muslims are attacked in the name of faith, and when attempts are made to spread unrest in the country, creating hatred between Hindus and Muslims,” he said.

Highlighting the economic distress among cattle farmers in West Bengal, Rashidi claimed many Hindu farmers and traders were struggling financially due to declining cattle sales.

“Many Hindu cattle farmers in Bengal are facing an economic crisis. People have come out on the streets expressing their distress, saying that their businesses have collapsed because cows are not being sold and that they are burdened with debt,” he said.

He also questioned why Right-wing organisations such as the Bajrang Dal were not stepping forward to support cattle farmers facing hardships.

Commenting on the use of the term “traitor” by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, Rashidi criticised the deteriorating level of political discourse in the country.

“These days the standard of politics has fallen so low. Terms like ‘Jersey cow,’ ‘traitor,’ ‘vote thief,’ and similar expressions have become common in politics. I believe we are witnessing a decline in both the standards and the spirit of politics,” he said.

He further asserted that derogatory language had no place in politics or society.

“Using words like ‘traitor’ or ‘Jersey cow’ is unacceptable not only in politics but also in society,” Rashidi added.

–IANS

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