From Kripamoya Prabhu’s blog:
Returning to the Manor, I learned that various Hindu organisations had put out their own press releases, and that BBC Radio 4’s Sunday programme will be featuring the story tomorrow after 7.00am.
Viewing the London ITN news from the other night I found it quite remarkable how the RSPCA are providing the public with a version of events which is quite removed from what actually happened. More than that, they have escalated the level of pain and distress our cow was in to the point where anyone just has to agree with them that they took the correct action.
But they did not. They made an error of judgement born, I feel, from a sense of moral certitude brought about by the genuinely good work they do. Unfortunately their notion of compassion and prevention of cruelty involves killing the very animal they are being compassionate to. Its a view which comes from not understanding that animals have souls.
The public trust them, they have a good image, but they are not free from the tendency to make mistakes. There is a website cataloguing their mistakes which makes for interesting reading.
And killing a cow at a Hare Krishna temple was a big mistake. Our duty is to let them know that in no uncertain terms. Then to get the law changed so that it never happens again.Tomorrow will be interesting as Hindu leaders gather at the Manor to discuss the way forward.
We understand there are important developments from Kripamoya Prabhu’s description:
This morning began with a breakfast interview on BBC Asian Network Radio with Srutidharma Das, the vice president of Bhaktivedanta Manor, and Tim Wass the RSPCA man responsible for yesterday’s killing.
It continued with CNN News filming at the Manor and the examination of this mornings national press. Times, Telegraph, Guardian, Mail, all featured good pieces and used photos of Gangotri.
Many phone calls kept coming, including one from London Newsquest which serves all the local newspapers in the metropolitan area. The interviewer was extremely interested and sympathetic.
On the political front, Barry Gardiner was able to ask questions in the Commons last night, saying that an ‘outrage has been done to the Hindus in this country’ and Harriet Harman replied on behalf of Defra minister Hilary Benn, in Bali for the UN Climate Summit, that she understood the depth of feeling on this issue and that a reply would be forthcoming.
You can watch last night’s television news about the incident here, and read today’s press-release here…
By Radha Mohan das – BCS (UK Communications)
In an act that will shock ISKCON around the world and Hindu communities, the British RSPCA aided by a vet and escorted by police officers this morning secretly killed a cow at Bhaktivedanta Manor. The story has reached national and international media and feelings are strong.
The cow, named Gangotri, a 13 year-old Belgian Blue and Jersey cross, and much loved by the devotees, was killed at 9.00 am. Police bundled away angry and confused devotees who were in attendance of the sick cow, and the head farmer was kept talking while inside the barn a lethal injection was given to the cow.
Cows are sacred to Hindus, and the killing of a cow is considered to be an outrageous act. The killing of a cow at a temple amounts to religious sacrilege of the worst kind.
The killing was conducted despite personal assurances given the previous day from RSPCA officers and police that due to religious sensitivities no immediate action would be taken.
Concerns that they now had an extended legal situation on their hands, rather than an imminent action, caused the priests at the temple to contact sympathetic MPs who then contacted Hilary Benn MP, the head of DEFRA. Again, assurances were given from DEFRA that no immediate action would be taken.
“This is shocking and duplicitous behaviour” said Gauri Das, the head of the community. “We have been deceived by those who had given us their word.”
It was for this reason that, the previous day, RSPCA regional veterinary Superintendent Timothy Wass, accompanied by two assistants, together with local Hertfordshire police, had visited the temple and engaged in lengthy discussions with Gauri das, who said: “They expressed their sensitivities, and the police gave us their assurances that we would be given time to pursue a legal recourse.”
The cow was sick but had no disease. She was being cared for by temple residents and visiting worshippers, and was being administered pain relief. The temple runs ‘The Cow Protection Project’ and allows old cows and bulls to die naturally.
Head Farm Manager and former Royal Marine Stuart Coyle (Syamasundar das) explained: “Gangotri was unable to walk, but due to her condition there was some tolerable discomfort”.
Syam continued in detail: “When she first became sick we called our local vet and followed all the recommendations he directed. Along with with allopathic treatments from our local vet we have also administered a range of alternative treatments which include homeopathy, acupunture, manipulation, massage, and reiki.”
“We did expect that she would pass on quite soon after going down however here we are one year and quarter on and she was still going strong.
“We have one of our farm personnel who is specifically tasked to nurse her and attend to all her needs.
“She was located in the most visitor-accessible position in the farm to enable her to get plenty of company and also to demonstrate an important aspect of Cow protection wherein our cows are cared for the entirety of their natural life.
“Over the past month there has been a series of visits from various professional persons who have been requested to make a judgement on her condition. About one month ago our local vet came to visit her at the request of a visitor.
“Last week on the 4th of December a Vet from the State Veterinary Service
(SVS) came to conduct a test on three of our cows and at the same time to look at Gangotri again at the request of a visitor to the farm. The Vet was informed of our position regarding cows and how we take care of them within our faith. Despite this information he wrote a formal letter advising us that we make arrangements to kill the cow. I have not received this letter yet but I was shown it when he visited again on the 7th of December.
“On the second visit of the vet from the SVS he stated his opinion regarding Gangotri and I gave the position of the temple. He indicated on his departure that nothing further would probably come from it taking into count the seriousness of the cows conection with the Hindu Faith.
“On the 10th and 11th (I wasn’t available on the 10th) of December we were visited by an officer from the RSPCA who had also been contacted by a visitor to the temple regarding Gangotri. He had already been in contact with DEFRA.
“He read me my rights under caution and proceeded to issue me with a warning notice stating that we should euthenase gangotri immeadiately. Later in the afternoon a police office came under the request of the RSPCA to also re-inforce the legal position of the RSPCA officer and the SVS vet. Both the RSPCA and police indicated that they would not act without any notification but reminded us that the legal wheels are now turning.
“On the 12th of December we were visited by a seniour member of the RSPCA accomapanied by two other junior RSPCA officers. The RSPCA were also accompanied by two local police officers. During the visit the RSPCA pointed out their position regarding Gangotri and we informed them of our position. During the meeting we were led to believe that we would have the opportunity of taking some legal action to stop the slaughter notice. The police indicated that we would get time to counter the slaughter notice.
“The next morning – this morning – at 9am I received a call that the RSPCA and police were at the farm. On my entering the farm the police issued me with a warrant to enter the premises. At the same time the head of the RSPCA delegation stopped me and apologised about the action they were going to have to make. During my protestations to the RSPCA officer another officer came and reported that the cow had already been killed. The senior officer had delayed me whilst they sneekily were killing our cow.
“I immediately went to the barn to see a vet declaring the cow was dead accompanied by other RSPCA officers.”
Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport to SB 1.17.1, ” The principle sign of the age of Kali is that lower-caste sudras, i.e, men without brahminical culture and spiritual initiation, will be dressed like administrators or kings, and the principle business of such non-ksatriya rulers will be to kill the innocent animals, especially the cows and the bulls, who shall be unprotected by their masters, the bona-fide vaisyas, the mercantile community.”
But here, we have a case where even in our own back yard, our right to protect the cow is diminished. This is quite worrying. But what can be done?
For the majority of people accustomed to consuming meat, being mesmerized by the slick marketing of meat tenders, who hide the sheer horror of gruesome regimented killing of animals, the noble attempt to care for an ailing cow, is considered a quaint, if not, bizarre idea. It shows how far we have to go to normalize peoples perception of natural animal welfare.
On the other hand, to do what Maharaja Pariksit did, in threatening to kill a cow beater, would have us depicted as animal rights killers and terrorists. This whole incident shows how far removed society is from the wholesome, inclusive natural living standard.
Unless the politicians are swayed in our favor due to the rumpus and fallout caused by a highly publicized legal battle, it seems the murder will continue on our land. Perhaps Krishna wants another battle of sorts in this regard.
Ys, kesava Krsna dasa.
This is a great opportunity to make a big stinker out of this in the media. Lets face facts, the media loves a big stinker of a story and the foolish actions of the government is fodder for it. Britain is much more favorable for stories such as this than in USA where I think people are much more callous. Hopefully this will raise in people’s mind the question of how much rights animals have. This is such an unfortunate act but hopefully it can be raised and questioned at higher levels.
Please accept my condolances on the unfortunate passing of your cow, Gangotri. I suggest approaching PETA to get this story into their monthly magazine. Many influential people, who are members, including many of the world’s top entertainers and movie stars, might be very suprised to learn how devotees are taking care of cows, caring for them in sickness, and allowing them to die naturally of old age, in a loving environment on your farm. It would be a good opportunity to support the efforts of the devotees.
Dear prabhus,
Now that the world media are focusing on this incident we are able to express ourselves. How we do so will formulate people’s opinions. We cannot just let off steam, but with a cool head present matters readily understandable to all.
For instance, we know that the vet also had genuine concerns for the cow, but it was based on compassion in ignorance. That is, short remedial measures to combat suffering which discounts the role of time, natural life span, and of course, karma. This euthanasia tactic may appear to be an act of compassion, but in reality, the hastening of death disrupts the natural course of events for the soul.
The approach of caring for the cow as a frail mother, in gratitude for all the milk she had given for the Lord and the devotees, should strike an emotional chord with sensible people. That it appeared we were prolonging the suffering of a dying cow is in fact compassion in the mode of goodness, because we are abiding by the natural order of time, longevity and karma.
Anyway, I am sure we will present our case nicely. The speed with whih things are happening means that Krishna wants to establish another benchmark standard along the way to uplifting mankind.
Ys, Kesava Krsna dasa.
This was an outrage of no mean proportion. These people knew full well how we feel about cows and in particular how we were lovingly treating poor Gangotri. They came in with a cluster of policemen knowing exactly how we would likely react to their intended execution by lethal injection. They cared not one jot about our feelings, beliefs or anything. They said one thing and did another. Their claim to respect others’ beliefs was revealed for what it actually was, mere empty words. As far as they are concerned they can waltz right in and kill our beloved cows right under our noses. All in the name of compassion – – and that coming from a group that happily endorses the unspeakable killing methods of other faiths simply for food. A group whose members mostly eat animal flesh from the slaughterhouse every day. Such persons would presume to give us lessons in morality, effectively telling us that we do not know how to be compassionate and caring. As Keshava Krishna prabhu rightly says, we have a long way to go to “normalise” people’s perception of actual welfare. A long, long way.
Why did the authorities think it was so important to murder Gangotri? Was it just “euthanasia”, to prevent her further suffering? Or do they have some other rationale, like preventing spread of sickness to other animals? What do they say in their own defense, about why they had to cheat the cow’s caretakers and kill her in a sneaky way?
If, as the mundane authorities claim, compassion requires the killing of a debilitated animal nearing the end of its God-given lifespan, then why in many places is it illegal to assist the suicide of a terminally ill human? Why don’t they go into the nursing homes and kill all the feeble old people there, if it’s actually compassion?
I like the suggestion by Suresh Prabhu (comment #3). PETA can be over the top but they are often effective.
Gangotri, I just acted like another “concerned citizen”. I contacted Peta here in US regarding the killing of that cow
This is the response I got: We have great relationship with PETA here in Washington DC,( that is another devotee and myself doing books here0, they have sometimes advised people to buy the Higher taste from us, and I have sold some books of Prabhupadas books to several of them and given some as gifts, they are doing something good in my humble opinion, they have a small booklet with many quotes from the bible about being a vegetarian they get this from a christian group that is vegetarians, ISKCON will benefit from being friends with PETA I believe , that is many intelligent persons, will see ISKCON in a very positive light, when they know we are against animal cruelty.
ys
Payonidhi das
To: PetaPSADistro
Subject: here is something that might interest you the forceful killing of a cow at the Hare Krsna’s in London
Dear Per,
Thank you for contacting PETA.
We appreciate the time you took to share this with us, and it has been passed along to the appropriate staffers here. PETA values feedback and input—from comments, suggestions, and inquiries to cruelty notifications, news stories, and requests for information.
I used to see your guys at the national mall in DC every day, I missed you guys this year
sincerely
Per Nielsen