An activist of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been arrested for organising a cow urine consumption event in the Indian city of Kolkata, claiming that it will protect people from coronavirus or cure those already infected, leading to a civic volunteer falling ill after drinking it, police said on Wednesday evening.
He was arrested late Tuesday night following a complaint filed by the victim, they said.
According to police officials, 40-year-old Narayan Chatterjee, a local party worker of Jorasakho area in North Kolkata, had on Monday organised a cow worship program at a cowshed and distributed cow urine.
He vouched for its “miraculous” properties while offering gaumutra (cow urine) to others.
A civic volunteer, who was on duty near the cowshed also consumed gaumutra and fell sick on Tuesday, following which he lodged a complaint with the police against Chatterjee.
Reacting to the arrest, the state BJP leadership criticised the state government.
“Chatterjee had distributed cow urine, but he didn’t fool people in consuming it. When he distributed it he clearly said it was cow urine, he didn’t force anyone to drink it. It has not been proved whether it is harmful or not.
“So how can just police arrest him without any reason. This is completely undemocratic,” state BJP General Secretary Sayantan Basu said.
BJP’s top hierarchy, including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, believes there is no harm in drinking cow urine.
