A storm of criticism has greeted a decision by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to set up 700 helpline centres to report cows in need of assistance when Covid-19 patients are begging for oxygen and hospital beds.
Carrying forward the government’s emblematic cow protection agenda, "in view of the current Covid situation, a total of 700 help desks for the welfare of cows has been set up across the state’s districts,” an official press release said, according to the Press Trust of India.
As doctors battled the devastating second pandemic wave pummelling the state, the decree by the Yogi Adityanath government was blasted on social media. One irate Twitter user said Friday: “In a place where humans are dying like flies, a help desk is established for 'holy cows.' Another Twitter user commented: "Yogi should concentrate on human beings who are gasping for oxygen and begging for a hospital bed. Their families are gathering firewood to cremate them. This man is amazing!”