New Delhi: The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has taken legal action by sending a defamation notice worth Rs 100 crore to BJP MP Maneka Gandhi. This notice comes in response to her recent statement in which she alleged that the Hindu religious organization engages in the sale of cows for slaughter.
Radharamn Das, Vice-President of ISKCON Kolkata, stated, "Today, we have issued a defamation notice of Rs 100 crore to Maneka Gandhi @Manekagandhibjp for making baseless accusations against ISKCON. The global community of ISKCON devotees, supporters, and well-wishers is deeply distressed by these false, slanderous, and damaging claims. We are committed to pursuing justice and refuting these erroneous allegations against ISKCON."
Earlier, a video featuring BJP leader Maneka Gandhi gained widespread attention, wherein she accused ISKCON of being the "biggest fraud in the country" and claimed that the organization sells cows from its gaushalas (cow shelters) to butchers. ISKCON vehemently denied these allegations, describing them as unsubstantiated and untrue.
In the undated video, Maneka Gandhi alleged, "ISKCON establishes gaushalas and receives significant government benefits, including extensive land holdings." She further asserted that the organization engages in selling all its cows to butchers, a practice she claimed no one else is involved in to a greater extent.
In the video, Maneka Gandhi, who is also an animal rights activist, argued that despite ISKCON's public demonstrations of devotion through chants like 'Hare Rama Hare Krishna' and their professed reliance on milk, they are involved in such activities.
The BJP leader also claimed that during her recent visit to ISKCON's Anantapur Gaushala in Andhra Pradesh, she did not find a single cow in good condition. She allegedly stated that there were no calves in their cowshed, indicating that all of them had been sold.
In response to these allegations, ISKCON issued a statement asserting, "ISKCON operates over 60 goshalas (cow shelters) in India, safeguarding hundreds of sacred cows and bulls while providing them with personalized care throughout their lifetimes. Many of the cows currently residing in ISKCON's goshalas were rescued after being abandoned, injured, or saved from slaughter."
BJP Confident in NDA Alliance with JD(S) Following AIADMK Split