UP BJP MLA says cows in shelters died natural deaths

Even as the controversy over the deaths of cows in shelters in Uttar Pradesh rages on, BJP MLA from Barabanki Ajay Singh said that the cows had died natural deaths.

"Every animal has a life span. Cattle live up to 20 years and most of them have a life span of 12 to 13 years. Most of the cows in cow shelters have died a natural death," he told reporters on Wednesday.

About 35 cows had died last week in a cow shelter in Prayagraj due to lighting and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had suspended eight officials for laxity in maintenance of cow shelters.

Later, 36 cows were found dead in shelters in Ayodhya and Pratapgarh.

Last month, over a dozen cows allegedly starved to death in Jalalabad cow shelter of Kannauj district, triggering protests by locals.

The Chief Minister had also announced that the government will give Rs 30 on a daily basis for each cattle for the fodder if the owners are not using them for commercial purpose. He instructed the officials to take this plan as a pilot project in the Bundelkhand region.

Ajay Singh said that he had demanded that ambulance services should be started for animals similar as we have that meet with accidents on roads. IANS