Priests linked to Ajmer Dargah Sharif have urged the Centre to declare the cow the national animal and impose a nationwide prohibition on its sale, slaughter and export of beef, placing one of the country’s most prominent Sufi shrines at the centre of a sensitive debate days before Eid-ul-Azha.
The appeal, led by Ajmer Sharif cleric Syed Sarwar Chishti, comes ahead of Eid-ul-Azha on May 28, when animal sacrifice forms part of religious observance for many Muslims. Chishti said the cow carried deep religious significance for Hindus and deserved constitutional protection, adding that Muslims should avoid sacrificing cows and respect the sentiments attached to the animal.
The intervention has drawn attention because Ajmer Dargah, the shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, is among the most visited Muslim pilgrimage centres in South Asia and has historically been associated with syncretic religious traditions. The clerics’ position aligns with appeals by some Muslim religious figures in other parts of the country who have asked community members to choose lawful alternatives for qurbani and avoid actions that may fuel tension.
The demand goes beyond calls for restraint during Eid. It seeks national animal status for the cow, a complete ban on cow slaughter, restrictions on sale for sacrifice, and curbs on beef exports. The tiger is currently the national animal, while the peacock is the national bird. Previous legal attempts to secure national animal status for the cow have not succeeded. The Supreme Court declined to entertain such a plea in 2022, while the Centre told Parliament last year that it had no plan to enact a law declaring the cow the national animal.
Cow protection remains primarily governed by state laws, creating a patchwork of rules across the country. Several states, including Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, have stringent restrictions on cow slaughter, while other regions regulate cattle slaughter through age, fitness and certification requirements. Rajasthan, where Ajmer is located, prohibits slaughter of bovine animals and restricts possession, sale and transport of beef and beef products under state law.
The debate is also linked to the country’s meat export economy. Official export data show that buffalo meat, not cow meat, forms the bulk of bovine meat exports. India exported about 1.25 million tonnes of buffalo meat worth roughly $4.06 billion in 2024-25, with Vietnam, Egypt, Malaysia, Iraq and Saudi Arabia among key markets. Export rules permit only boneless buffalo meat under prescribed conditions, while cow meat exports are not legally allowed. This distinction is often blurred in public debate, particularly when the term “beef” is used broadly in international trade to describe bovine meat.
Eid-ul-Azha has frequently brought administrative advisories and police monitoring in states where cow slaughter is banned or tightly regulated. Authorities often direct citizens to follow local animal preservation laws, obtain required certificates where slaughter is permitted, and avoid public sacrifice. This year, similar appeals have gained sharper visibility because the Ajmer clerics’ statement has framed the issue as one of communal sensitivity rather than only legal compliance.
Supporters of the appeal argue that voluntary restraint can help reduce communal friction and strengthen interfaith respect. They say Muslims have several permissible options for sacrifice and that avoiding cows would prevent deliberate provocation or misunderstanding in mixed localities. The argument has particular resonance in north and western states where cow protection movements have strong political and cultural roots.
Critics, however, warn that demands for a nationwide ban could deepen pressure on livestock traders, leather workers, transporters and sections of the meat industry, many of whom already operate under strict licensing and inspection regimes. They also point to the uneven legal landscape, arguing that food habits, livestock economies and state-level laws vary widely across the country. For farmers, the trade in unproductive cattle and buffaloes is tied to rural income, dairy management and market cycles.
