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Hindus protest over cow slaughter Hindu protest over cow slaughter
(about 10 hours later)
Hindus are protesting near to the House of Commons over claims that the RSPCA killed their sacred cow with a lethal injection while they worshipped. Hindus staged a noisy and colourful protest in London over the slaughter of a sacred cow at a Hertfordshire temple.
The group was accused of secretly putting down a Belgian blue-jersey cross, while Hindus at Bhaktivedanta Manor, Hertfordshire, were at prayer. Over 100 protestors were at the House of Commons to raise awareness over the death of Gangotri, a cow kept at the Bhaktivedanta Manor temple at Watford.
The RSPCA denied the allegation stating they informed staff on site "exactly" what would happen to the cow, Gangotri. While monks were praying, a vet from the Royal Society for the Protection of Animals (RSPCA) put the cow down on welfare grounds last December.
Conch shells are being blown and a mock killing of a cow will take place. An RSPCA spokesman said the cow was suffering and vets advised euthanasia.
Orange-robed Hindu monks will join the protest route from Parliament Square in Westminster to the offices of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Hindu protesters danced and chanted at the House of Commons and later at the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs while holding placards saying "RSPCA - suited and booted murderers" and "while we pray the RSPCA slay".
We are agonised by her killing Gauri Dasa, president of Bhaktivedanta Manor We did all we could to take religious sensitivities into account RSPCA
The event coincides with the scattering of the ashes of Gangotri by Hindu priests in the River Ganges in Varanasi, India. Spokesman Kapil Dudakia said: "It has been two months since the death of Gangotri and her ashes have now been scattered in the River Ganges by some of our devotees in India."
"Our travel to India is our final act of respect to Gangotri," said Gauri Dasa, president of Bhaktivedanta Manor. Campaigners argued that the RSPCA broke a promise that no immediate action would be taken to euthanise the cow who was suffering from muscular and bone problems and sores.
"We are agonised by her killing and British Hindus also wish to voice their concern on the same day. Their protest in London is an expression of this desire." An RSPCA spokesman said they had made an inspection of the cow after receiving a complaint and three independent vets said the cow should be "euthanised" immediately.
Campaigners hope to bring a civil case against the RSPCA on the grounds of trespass. "The RSPCA will always seek to respect religious views, but the most important thing is to stop animals suffering. That is what the RSPCA is for and what the public expects us to do.
An RSPCA spokesman said they had made an inspection of the cow, who was aged 13, after receiving a complaint. "We are sorry for any offence caused. We did all we could to take religious sensitivities into account.
Three independent vets had said the cow, which had painful, infected sores, should be "euthanized" immediately, a spokesman said. The spokesman added: "The RSPCA is based on a profound respect for animals, something we share with many religious communities.
'Respect religious views' "We hope to work with this community and their leaders to ensure that this situation never arises again."
An RSPCA spokesman said: "The RSPCA will always seek to respect religious views, but the most important thing is to stop animals suffering. That is what the RSPCA is for, and what the public expects us to do.
"We are sorry for any offence caused. We did all we could to take religious sensitivities into account, and it was unfortunate we were put in the position of having to take this action.
Some 200 delegates were sent to RSPCA headquarters in Horsham, West Sussex, in December last year.
The killing of Gangotri comes amid claims by British Hindus of Government "indifference" towards them.
Last year, Shambo, a temple bullock at the Skanda Vale temple in Carmarthenshire, West Wales, who tested positive for bovine TB, was put down in spite of protests.