A prominent Hindu religious leader today demanded a countrywide ban on slaughter of cows and asked the Centre to stop export of beef.
Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of Dwarka Peeth, also hailed the Maharashtra government's move to expand cow slaughter ban law to bring bulls and bullocks under its ambit.
Talking to reporters here, the nonogenarian seer said "we must congratulate the Maharashtra government for (expanding) the cow slaughter law. This Act should be implemented throughout the country."
"India is a Hindu majority country still we produce a huge quantity of beef. India is the biggest exporter of beef which is shameful for us. The government should ban export of beef and we must protect cows by all means," he added.
To a question, the Shankaracharya said despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assertion to curb corruption, bribe taking is rampant in the country. This is because of degradation of moral values and ethics in society.
On the upcoming Kumbh Mela in Nashik, he urged the Maharashtra government to focus on cleaning the Godavari river, on whose banks the mega religious event will take place.
"Godavari is so polluted and it is not fit for bathing. The government should first clean the river," he added.
