Counting cows, for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ), is a different matter. Yet its pro-cow policies, including bans on cow slaughter in several states, appear to be detrimental to cattle welfare. There were an estimated 5m stray cattle in India 2019, including 1.2m in UP . Strays cattle have long been a menace in India, given the Hindu taboo on cow slaughter. Almost all of India’s 28 states now have laws banning cow slaughter, many of which have grown stricter in recent years.

Source: The Hindu January 28, 2024 19:57 UTC