WHAT THE CONTROVERSY?
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) has sent a Rs 100 crore defamation notice to BJP MP Maneka Gandhi over her statement that the ISKCON sells cows to slaughterhouses.
However, The Iskcon has termed her allegations “completely unfounded” and said the devotees were “deeply pained” by the remarks. “Today we have sent a Rs 100 crore defamation notice to Maneka Gandhi for levelling completely unfounded allegations against Iskcon.
The worldwide community of Iskcon devotees, supporters, and well-wishers are deeply pained by these defamatory, slanderous, and malicious accusations.
We will not leave any stone unturned in our pursuit of justice against the fallacious propaganda against Iskcon,” Vice President of Iskcon Kolkata, Radharaman Das, said.
WHAT MENAKA GANDHI SAID?
A video of Bharatiya Janata Party MP Maneka Gandhi saying the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is the “biggest cheat in the country and it sells cows from its gaushalas (cowsheds) to the butchers” is going viral. In the video, widely shared on the internet, the former Union Minister and an animal rights activist is heard saying,
“ISKCON establishes gaushalas and earns unlimited benefits for the same from the government, in the form of huge lands.”ISKCON is selling all its cows to the butchers and no one else does this more than them. They are the ones who roam on the road chanting ‘Hare Rama Hare Krishna’ and say their entire life is dependent on milk,” Maneka Gandhi was heard saying in the video.
WHAT ISCON IS SAYING?
However, ISKCON rejected Maneka Gandhi’s allegations as “unsubstantiated and false” and said they were “surprised” by the statements of the former Union Minister.”ISKCON has pioneered cow protection in many parts of the world where beef is a staple diet,” ISKCON’s national spokesperson Yudhistir Govinda Das said in the statement.
“Many of the cows presently served in ISKCON’s goshalas were brought to us after being abandoned, injured, or rescued from being slaughtered,” the statement added. Later, in a video, ISKCON Public Relations Officer (PRO) Radharaman Das released a video, wherein he condemned Maneka Gandhi for her remarks and demanded proof supporting her statements.
He further said, “Maneka Gandhi speaks about the Anandapur Gaushala, what is strikingly interesting is that our bhakts and members have not seen her visit that particular gaushala.”How can she without going to the place speak of that place?” he added.
Further, the ISKCON PRO also urged Maneka Gandhi to present a video of the Gaushala she claims to be in a miserable state. He also emphasised that many BJP leaders and leaders cutting party lines have condemned her statement and said that in seven days, she has to reply to their notice, adding,
“If she doesn’t apologise, the defamation suit will be filed worth Rs 100 crore.”
SO WHAT DOES ISKCON DO WITH NON-DAIRY COWS?
ISKCON national spokesperson said that cows and bulls are cared for for their entire natural life in our goshalas.”Depending on the place, some have mechanisms & volunteers to help make the gobar into manure, others into panchagavya items like dhoop, diya, jivamrut, cakes for havan, etc. Where it is feasible some also have biogas plants,” he said.
ABOUT ISKCON
International Society for Krishna Consciousness, also popularly known as the Hare Krishna movement is a spiritual society founded by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
in July 1966 in New York.ISKCON belongs to the Gaudiya-Vaishnava sampradaya, a monotheistic tradition within Vedic culture.
Today ISKCON comprises more than 400 temples, 40 rural communities and over 100 vegetarian restaurants. It also conducts special projects throughout the world, such as “Food for Life”, the only free vegetarian relief program in the world.
ISKCON follows the teachings of the Vedas and Vedic scriptures, including the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam which teach Vaishnavism or devotion to God (Krishna) in His Supreme Personal aspect of Sri Sri Radha Krishna.