Ajmer barbers organise fund-raiser to save cows
In a move aimed to apparently ensure the protection and welfare of cows, the Sen community (barber) in Ajmer district organised a charity event, in which the money collected from residents after providing haircuts would be donated to goshaalas (cow centres)
In a move aimed to apparently ensure the protection and welfare of cows, the Sen community (barber) in Ajmer district organised a charity event, in which the money collected from residents after providing haircuts would be donated to goshaalas (cow centres).
Several BJP leaders, including education minister Vasudev Devnani, women and child welfare minister Anita Bhadel and district BJP president Arvind Yaav, participated in the event, which was organised amid a large gathering outside a salon in Vaihasli Nagar here on Monday.
Sources said Champalal Maharaj, a member of the community and priest of Bhairavgarh Dham, was in-charge of the event.
The issue of cow protection and welfare has dominated the political discourse in the state and the nation mainly due to the importance that BJP — a party with a large Hindu vote base — attaches to the issue.
"Over the years, the BJP has made the issue of cow protection and welfare an integral part of their political agenda by including it in their manifesto," said Kailash Jhaliwal, vice-president of District Congress Committee, Ajmer, and political analyst.
When contacted, Devnani said: "Chamapalal Maharaj requested us to donate our hair for the protection and care of cows. We are dedicated to the cause, as is evident from the separate ministry that our chief minister created recently."
Bhadel said: "The Sen Community has organised a very praiseworthy program to help the cows. Other communities will take a leaf out of this and come forward to protect cows."
Maharaj said the community had collected about Rs 51,000 through the event, in which about 1,000 residents, including political leaders, participated.
BJP's district president Arvind Yadav said such events would create awareness about the importance of protecting native cow breeds.
Even top Congress leaders in the district participated
in the event.