Trivendra Singh Rawat, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, has kicked up a row after stating in an interview that cow is the only animal which inhales and exhales oxygen. He also added that breathing problems can be cured by massaging a cow.
The video (click here to watch) went viral on Thursday, showing Mr. Rawat praising the medicinal properties of cow milk and urine at a function in Dehradun.
The chief minister’s praise of the cow comes days after Uttarakhand BJP president and Nainital lawmaker Ajay Bhatt said that pregnant women can avoid cesarean deliveries if they drink the water of Garud Ganga, a river in Bageshwar district.
However, a livestock expert stated that cows emit methane and not oxygen. Methane, which leads to ozone depletion and global warming, is released the most by cows among livestock animals.
When contacted, officials at the Chief Minister’s office defended Mr. Rawat’s remarks, saying that he was only stating something which is a common belief in Uttarakhand.
