Miscellaneous
UML’s Janjati lawmakers want to remove cow as nat’l animal
Nearly three dozen indigenous lawmakers from the ruling CPN-UML have pressed the party leadership to remove cow as the national animal.Janajati lawmakers, who had submitted a memorandum to the party, have argued that replacing cow with other “neutral” national symbol would do justice to millions of non-Hindu population living across the country.
The lawmakers have also urged the leadership not to change the party position on secularism. Janajati leaders are increasingly wary about party’s “flip-flopping” position on secularism after many top leaders including Chairman KP Oli spoke in favour of religious freedom.
In a similar note of dissident submitted to CA chairman Subash Nembang earlier this month, Janajati lawmakers from across the party line had urged the CA to replace cow with one-horned rhino as the national animal in the new constitution.
“We are flexible on animal but the major parties should seek alternative to cow. Replacing cow with rhino would be a great idea as it would also help in conservation of the endangered species,” said UML lawmaker Pemba Bhote.
Some Janajati lawmakers said that the election commission should not allow Rastriya Prajatantra Party to use cow as election symbol.
“We have no problem if the constitution exempts people who eat beef from punishment. It would do justice to several ethnic minorities who eat cow meat,” said a NC lawmaker, seeking anonymity.
Cow was adopted as the national animal by earlier constitutions. The animal holds high place among the Hindus who worship cow as the goddess of wealth (Laxmi)