Union Culture Minister G Kishan Reddy on Monday told Parliament that India’s national animal is the tiger and the government does not intend to recognise cow as the national animal. Reddy was responding to a series of questions raised by BJP MP Bhagirath Chaudhary, who had asked the Culture Ministry whether the government intends to recognise ‘Gaumata’, an integral part of Indian culture, as the national animal. He asked whether the preservation and revival of Indian and Sanatan culture was being considered by bringing a law in Parliament.
What the Union Culture Minister said?
On this, the Union Minister clarified that the Government of India has notified the tiger as the national animal and the peacock as the national bird and both of these have been included in the Animals of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. He said the ministry on May 30, 2011 re-notified the tiger and peacock as the national animal and national bird respectively.
Questions asked on the court’s comment
On a specific question whether the Allahabad and Jaipur High Courts had ordered and commented on expediting the process of declaring ‘Gaumata’ as the national animal. On this, Union Minister Reddy said that these matters are in the hands of the legislative authorities of the state. “In order to supplement and supplement the efforts made by the States and Union Territories, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying is implementing the Rashtriya Gokul Mission for the development and conservation of indigenous breeds including cattle,” he said. He said that this mission is increasing the availability of indigenous breeds including cattle in the country. The department has also set up the Animal Welfare Board of India for the protection of animals including cow and its progeny. “
