Mathura, April 7 RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said on Tuesday that public awareness could help end cow slaughter in India, and wished for a fervor similar to that surrounding the construction of the Ram Temple.
"If society becomes devoted to cows, cow slaughter will stop immediately. We need to make the public aware; the rest will follow," Bhagwat said.
He acknowledged the difficulties of keeping cows in cities, and suggested that people support 'gaushalas' (cow shelters) instead.
The chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was speaking on the 452nd birth anniversary of Malok Das ji Maharaj at Malook Peeth in Vrindavan.
"If there is public sentiment, the system has to accept it," he said.
Bhagwat referred to the landmark Supreme Court judgment that paved the way for the construction of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya.
"The Ram temple was not built between 2014 and 2019. It came after 2019. Why? The Supreme Court, which had previously said that it had other very important matters, issued a unanimous judgment," he said.
Bhagwat said the apex court issued the judgment because of the "sentiments" across the country. "Similarly, the same feeling should be visible for the cows. You are also making efforts, and so are we."
The decades-long struggle for the Ram temple in Ayodhya ended in 2019 with the Supreme Court judgment.
A 'bhoomi pujan' ritual at the temple construction site was held in August 2020 in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, followed by a 'pran pratishtha' ceremony in January 2024.
According to a statement issued after the event by the organizers, Bhagwat said he had no doubt that India would become a world leader.
"India, taking inspiration from its saints and its spiritual values, will provide a new direction to the world," Bhagwat said.
On the unrest in West Asia, the RSS chief said that the time has now come for "India to emerge as a 'Vishwa Guru' and to create a new, happy, and beautiful world."
Bhagwat stressed the need for enlightenment for everyone and urged people to not only observe the words of the saints, but also the sentiments underlying them.
He said that for 452 years, the Maluk Peeth kept the tradition of Saint Maluk Das alive. Everyone should draw lessons on the philosophy of life from this example.
"There cannot be (any) religion without truth and compassion. Everyone should live together in harmony. Compassion enters one's life when the suffering of others feels like one's own suffering," he said.
Responding to Mahant Rajendra Das Maharaj's demand for a complete ban on cow slaughter, Bhagwat said, "Transform society into devotees of the cow, and cow slaughter will stop on its own."
"Empower… This would be a courageous step. Cow products will be taken to every single person. The Sangh will work in this direction," he added.