The ISKCON versus Maneka Gandhi clash is likely to witness a fierce legal fight with the former now sending a Rs 100 crore defamation notice against the BJP MP for her "Iskcon is selling all their cows to the butchers" remarks. In a statement, Vice-President ISKCON Kolkata, Radharamn Das said, "Today we have sent a Rs 100 crore defamation notice to Mrs. Maneka Gandhi for levelling completely unfounded allegations against ISKCON. The worldwide community of ISKCON devotees, supporters, and well-wishers are deeply pained by these defamatory, slanderous, and malicious accusations. We will not leave any stone unturned in our pursuit of justice against the fallacious propaganda against ISKCON."
Talking to ANI, Das asked how an MP, a former Union Minister could make such a comment without any evidence against a big society.
#WATCH | West Bengal | On BJP MP Maneka Gandhi's remark, Vice-President of ISKCON Kolkata, Radharamn Das says, "The comments of Maneka Gandhi were very unfortunate. Our devotees across the world are very hurt. We are taking legal action of defamation of Rs 100 Crores against her. We have sent her a notice today. How can an MP, once a Union Minister, lie without any evidence against such a big society?..."
What Did Maneka Gandhi Say About ISKCON?
The former Union Minister was seen in a video saying that the global religious organisation, Iskcon, is a "big fraud". She can be heard saying the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) only pretends to protect cows while actually selling cattle to slaughterhouses.
"They maintain gaushalas (cow sheds) with government funds. They even get plots for gaushalas from the government," Gandhi said. "But no cow is dry there. All are being used for dairies. No calf is there...Iskcon is selling all their cows to the butchers," she alleged.
She added, "They say their entire life is dependent on milk. Probably no one has sold as many cattle to butchers as they did. If these people can do it, what about others?"
Reacting to it on Wednesday, Iskcon issued a strong statement refuting her allegation. ISKCON national spokesperson Yudhistir Govinda Das said that the cows and bulls are served for their life not sold to butchers as alleged. Das took to X and said, “ISKCON has been at the forefront of cow and bull protection and care not just in India but globally.”
He further stated that Gandhi has made the allegations following a letter from the Veterinary doctor regarding the Anantapur Govt Goshala that is maintained by ISKCON. “The Goshalas serves 76 bulls and 246 non-milking cows alongside milking cows with love and devotion,” he added.