The WIFE of the cow protection activist Hira Lambariya alias Gabhru who allegedly committed suicide demanding rashtra maata status for cow, submitted an affidavit to additional collector (RAC) of Rajkot Monday countering media reports that her husband was “murdered.”
Lambariya’s wife Bhavu came to Rajkot Monday and submitted an affidavit to RAC Harshad Vora. In her affidavit, Bhanu brushed aside media reports that Lambariya was given poison against his will and had thus been murdered.
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“I file this affidavit with a view to clarify news published in various newspapers, criticism of my husband after he attained martyrdom and complaints by private persons. I hereby state that I am filing this affidavit to protect dignity of sacrifice and martyrdom of my husband and to protect his respect and regard. I file this affidavit to repeat the demand for protection of cow and to declare that I am also affiliated with Gau Raksha Samiti, its sister organisations and other groups working for prevention of cruelty to animal,” stated Bhavu.
Incidentally, two men from the city, Manga Lambariya and Narayan Lambariy, had given an application to Rajkot city police commissioner stating they were aware that police had been investigating as to who consumed the poison and who arranged for it. They further offered help in the investigation.
But Bhanu said that she had not given any statement to media or filed any complaint against anybody, nor does she intend to file one “after my husband attained martyrdom.”
But Manga Lambariya, a resident of Rajkot who claims to be leader of the community said their concern was as to who brought the insecticide bottle after police snatched away one. “But now that his family members don’t want that probed, we have little to do with it,” Manga told The Indian Express.
Bhavu’s affidavit further stated that she had full confidence in the investigation being done by police.
Meanwhile in Surat, the Bhartiya Gauraksha Manch (BGM) members belonging to both Hindu and Muslim communities Monday gave a memorandum to mamlatdar of Songadh taluka in Tapi district demanding to declare cow as rashtra maata .
BGM general secretary Mumtaz Malek said, “For the last one and half years we are striving hard to spread awareness in Songadh taluka about the benefits and usefulness of cow. Out of total 100 members of the BGM 40 members are Muslims and mostly into meat selling business. Earlier cows were slaughtered in Tapi district and beef was transported to neighbouring Maharashtra state. Now, not a single cow is slaughtered here. We demand that cow should be declared as rashtra maata and slaughtering of cows should be stopped.”