Jyotish Peeth Shankaracharya takes offence to UP minister’s remarks

Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati '1008' of Jyotish Peeth has taken a strong stance against recent statements by Uttar Pradesh's Animal Husbandry Minister, who asserted that the cow population (go-vansh) in the state is fully secure and dismissed reports of cow slaughter incidents as "misconceptions" or "falsehoods."

In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the Shankaracharya has demanded that representatives of Jyotish Peeth be granted permission to conduct an independent investigation and collect evidence on the ground. He has specifically requested authorization for scientific DNA testing to verify claims about cow protection and any alleged violations.The Shankaracharya emphasized that if the government is confident in its assertions, there should be no hesitation in allowing transparent, scientific verification. 

"Truth requires no covering," he stated firmly in his message. He added that if the administration's claims are accurate, permission should be granted without any delay. Refusal to do so, he argued, would itself serve as automatic proof that the Animal Husbandry Minister's statement is merely an attempt to conceal the truth.

Swami Avimukteshwaranand stressed that the protection of cows must be demonstrated not just through official paperwork and statistics, but through visible reality on the ground. If the government cooperates fully, he said, the distinction between truth (milk) and falsehood (water) would become clear swiftly. 

The letter comes amid heightened tensions over cow protection issues in Uttar Pradesh, where the Shankaracharya has previously issued related challenges to the state government, including demands for stronger measures against cow slaughter and exports.