“ISKCON Sell Cows To Butchers” BJP MP Menaka Gandhi (image-www.instagram/manekagandhibjp)

BJP MP Maneka Gandhi on Tuesday made scathing attack on a religious organisation. “The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is the “biggest cheat” in the country as it sells cows from its gaushalas (cowsheds) to butchers”, she said.

Soon after the allegation was made, the ISKCON responded to Maneka’s statement and called it ‘unsubstantiated and false’.

“ISKCON has been at the forefront of cow and bull protection and care not just in India but globally. The cows and bulls are served for their life not sold to butchers as alleged,” wrote on X.

Response to the unsubstantiated and false statements of Smt Maneka Gandhi.

ISKCON has been at the forefront of cow and bull protection and care not just in India but globally.

The cows and bulls are served for their life not sold to butchers as alleged. pic.twitter.com/GRLAe5B2n6

— Yudhistir Govinda Das (@yudhistirGD) September 26, 2023

In the video shared, she said, “The biggest cheat in India today is ISKCON. They establish gaushalas for which they get unlimited benefits from the government to run them. They get huge land…everything. I just visited their Anantput Gaushala. Not a single dry cow is present. All are dairies. There is not a single calf. It means all of them were sold. ISCKON is selling all its cows to the butcher”.

“They say their entire life is dependent on milk…Probably no one has sold as many cattle to butchers as they did. If these people can do it, what about others?” she added.

Hours after the videos went viral, the ISKCON issued a statement on their official social media handle. They mentioned that they were surprised by the MP’s comment.

“Smt. Gandhi is a well-known animal rights activist and well-wisher of ISKCON hence we are surprised by these statements”.

“ISKCON has pioneered cow protection in many parts of the world where beef is a staple diet. Within India, ISKCON runs more than 60 gaushalas protecting hundreds of sacred cows and bulls and providing personalised care for their entire lifetime. Many of the cows presently served in ISCKON”s gaushalas were brought to us after being found abandoned, injured, or rescued from being slaughtered,” the statement read.

It added, “In recent times, ISKCON has begun training programs for the farmers and rural households on cow care techniques to help revive the culture of cow worship and care as was the case in previous generations. Several ISCKON gaushalas are recognised and lauded for their high cow-care standards by the government or associate of gaushalas.”

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness or ISKCON, known colloquially as the Hare Krishna movement or Hare Krishnas, is a Gaudiya Vaishnava Hindu religious organization.