In a statement that goes against all scientific findings, a Rajasthan minister has claimed that cow is the “only animal that inhales as well as exhales Oxygen.”
The remarks were made by Rajasthan Education Minister Vasudev Devnani, who was speaking at the Hingonia Goshala during an event organised by Akshay Patra foundation on Saturday.
Highlighting the ‘scientific significance’ of the cow, Devnani said, “Gai ekmatra prani hai jo oxygen grahan karta hai, aur oxygen hi chodta hai (The cow is the only animal that takes in oxygen and also releases oxygen).”
He said that “there is a need to understand the scientific significance of the cow and ensure that the message reaches all people,” The Indian Express reported.
The minister added that diseases such as cold and cough are healed if one goes near a cow and emphasised on the role of youth in promoting cow conservation in the entire country.
He also claimed that cow dung has ample quantity of vitamin B that soaks radioactivity.
The claim contradicts findings of the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation. The body in a 2006 report had said that livestock, including cows, are responsible for large amounts of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, from their digestive systems as well as manure decay.
Devnani made the statement at the Hingonia gaushala, which was in news last year after thousands of cows died at the centre for various reasons.
Last year in August, the Rajasthan government said that 8,122 cows had died at Asia's “best” Hingonia Gaushala between January 1 and July 31 in 2016 due to “ill-health and accidental injuries.”
On an average, 1,053 cows died every month in first seven months of the year. No latest data is available on the deaths of cows at the centre.
