Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken a firm stance against referring to cows merely as animals and against posting cow images on social media during Eid al-Adha. Speaking at a government event in Bijnor on Monday, he said cows hold the status of a mother in Indian culture and urged Muslim religious leaders to caution their followers against disrespectful behavior toward cows. He warned that strict action would be taken against cow slaughter in the state.

Adityanath also criticized religious leaders for not publicly condemning violence against Hindus in Bangladesh and Pakistan, saying that speaking up for persecuted families and demanding compensation would demonstrate humanitarian sensitivity. He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which he said allows persecuted Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan to obtain Indian citizenship. He accused opposition parties of encouraging illegal immigration by opposing the law.

The remarks reflect Adityanath’s continued emphasis on cultural and religious issues alongside his support for the CAA.