Akhilesh slams Maneka Gandhi’s statement against ISKCON

Lucknow, Sep 28 (IANS) Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has termed BJP MP Maneka Gandhi’s allegations against ISKCON as “disgusting” and described it as a part of a larger conspiracy to spread animosity in society.

Reacting sharply to charge that “ISKCON” is the biggest cheat in the country which “sells cows to butchers”, Akhilesh said that “The question in the minds of the people is why the BJP leaders want to spread animosity in the society and at whose instance. Allegations on ISKCON are an indication of a larger conspiracy.”

A video is doing the rounds where Maneka Gandhi, who is an animal rights activist and vocal on social media over issues of animal welfare, can be heard saying: “ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) is the biggest cheat in the country.”

Recalling her visit to ISKCON Gaushala in Andhra Pradesh, Maneka said she was unable to find a single calf there or a cow which did not give milk. “There was no dry cow in the entire dairy. Not a single calf was there. It means all were sold. ISKCON is selling all its cows to the butchers. No one else does this as much as they do,” she alleged.

ISKCON’s national spokesperson Yudhistir Govinda Das has described Maneka’s statement as “unsubstantiated”.

“First, the BJP connived with the land mafia and targeted Radha Soami Satsang community. Now the BJP people are accusing the worshippers Lord Krishna of selling cows to butchers. Followers of ISKCON worldwide are pained by these disgusting allegations. The BJP government must explain this because the issue is not related to a particular state or the country but its image at the international level as well because dedicated to the spirit of Lord Krishna, ISKCON is spread across the world,” said Akhilesh Yadav.

A strong worshipper of Lord Krishna himself, Akhilesh had installed a 50-feet tall copper idol of Lord Krishna in his native village of Saifai.