Complete Ban on Cow Slaughter and Declaration of Cow as ‘Rashtra Mata’ Demanded at Go Samman Aahwan Abhiyan Meeting in Shimla
Campaign Claims Over 20 Crore Signatures Collected, Sets Target of 51 Crore; State-Level Memorandum Programme Proposed in Shimla on December 17
Shimla : A public awareness meeting under the nationwide Go Samman Aahwan Abhiyan was organised at Shri Ram Temple, near the Old Bus Stand in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, on Saturday. The campaign seeks a complete ban on cow slaughter across India and the declaration of the cow as Rashtra Mata (Mother of the Nation). Saints associated with the campaign, office-bearers, cow protection activists, social workers and local residents participated in the meeting.
Swami Gopalanand Saraswati, who arrived from Rajasthan, and Gopesh Baba Maharaj, who came from Vrindavan, shared details of the campaign and stated that signatures of more than 20 crore citizens had been collected so far. The campaign has now set a target of collecting 51 crore signatures. Through this nationwide signature drive and public participation initiative, the campaign aims to urge the government to enact an effective central law prohibiting cow slaughter and to grant the cow the status of Rashtra Mata, along with other related demands.
State-Level Memorandum Programme Proposed for December 17
As part of the third phase of the campaign, a state-level memorandum submission programme is proposed to be held in Shimla on December 17, 2026. Citizens from various districts of Himachal Pradesh are expected to participate in the programme to raise their demands for a complete ban on cow slaughter and the declaration of the cow as Rashtra Mata before the government.
Participants at the awareness meeting were informed about the proposed programme and urged to intensify preparations through village-level outreach, signature collection and broader public participation.
‘Vote for Gau Mata’: Appeal for Digital Signatures
The campaign has also launched a digital public participation initiative titled Vote for Gau Mata. Through this initiative, citizens can register their digital signatures in support of a complete ban on cow slaughter and the declaration of the cow as Rashtra Mata.
Organisers said citizens could participate by visiting www.gausamman.cloud. They clarified that the initiative is a public participation campaign and not an official voting exercise conducted by the government or the Election Commission of India.
Citizens Can Join the Campaign Through a Missed Call
Citizens can also join the Go Samman Aahwan Abhiyan by giving a missed call to 9067777323.
The organisers appealed to citizens to share information about the campaign with their family members, friends and acquaintances to encourage wider participation in support of the demand for a complete ban on cow slaughter.
Key Demands Include a Central Cow Ministry and Protection of Grazing Land
The major demands of the Go Samman Aahwan Abhiyan include a complete ban on cow slaughter across India, the enactment of an effective central law, recognition of the cow as Rashtra Mata, the establishment of a Central Ministry for Cow Welfare, the removal of encroachments from grazing lands and the formulation of a national policy for cattle fodder and grazing.
The campaign also seeks to promote cow-centric initiatives in agriculture, healthcare, environmental protection and other sectors. Public awareness programmes, signature drives and citizen participation activities are being conducted across the country to build support for these demands.
According to the organisers, the objective is to convey public support to the government through peaceful, non-violent and democratic means.
Those present at the meeting included Swami Gopalanand Saraswati Ji Maharaj, Shri Gopesh Krishna Das Ji Maharaj, Sushant Muni Ji Maharaj, Shri Amritanand Ji Maharaj, Shri Sanjay Das Ji Maharaj, Swami Dhiranand Ji Maharaj, Acharya Shri Rameshwar Dutt Ji Maharaj, Anil Bhardwaj, Shrikantanand Ji Maharaj and Sunita Didi, along with several cow protection activists, campaign workers and distinguished citizens.