IIT Madras Director's remark on cow urine's medicinal value sparks controversy
Criticised for spreading pseudoscience
Chennai: IIT Madras Director V Kamakoti has stirred debate by praising the medicinal properties of cow urine during an event at a 'Go Samrakshana Sala' on Maatu Pongal in Chennai. Kamakoti claimed cow urine possesses anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and digestive benefits, citing its potential to treat ailments like Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
In a viral video, Kamakoti narrated an anecdote of an ascetic who reportedly cured a fever by consuming cow urine. His statements were made in the context of advocating for organic farming and the protection of indigenous cattle breeds.
The remarks have drawn criticism from political leaders and rationalist groups. DMK leader TKS Elangovan accused the central government of promoting pseudoscience, while Congress MP Karti Chidambaram called the comments unbecoming of an academician. Dravidar Kazhagam leader Kali Poongundran referred to studies suggesting cow urine's harmful effects, urging the public not to believe such claims.
However, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai defended Kamakoti, stating his remarks were personal and not intended as a directive. Sources close to Kamakoti clarified that his comments were rooted in his personal experiences as an organic farmer.
At the event, Kamakoti also criticised the British colonial education system, alleging it undermined indigenous cattle breeds and farming practices. Highlighting the role of native cows in organic farming, he emphasised the environmental, nutritional, and economic benefits of protecting them.
Kamakoti, who has been the director of IIT Madras since January 2022, is a recipient of the DRDO Academy Excellence Award for his contributions to scientific research and technology development.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Rahul Gandhi demands 'clean, pure' voter list; says 'vote theft' issue will explode soon
_vb_65.jpeg)
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said the Opposition is protesting for the right to vote for every Indian and demanded a "clean and pure" voter list, asserting that the issue of alleged irregularities pointed out by him will "explode" soon as it is not related to a single constituency but the whole country.
Indicating that he would not submit a signed affidavit as sought by the Election Commission, Gandhi asserted that the data analysed by the Congress to provide "proof" of "vote theft" is taken from the EC website.
"This is their data. It is not my data that I should sign. It is their data only and has been taken from their website. This is only a move to distract," he told reporters.
The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, who participated in a protest march by the opposition on the "vote theft" issue, said the Election Commission is "silent" as the truth is before the entire nation after his charge that over one lakh votes in an assembly constituency in Karnataka were found to be fake in a research conducted by his party.
"Another thing I want to tell is that this has not just happened in Bangalore, but in different constituencies across the country, and the Election Commission knows this. The EC knows that this data will explode. What it is trying to control and hide, we will bring it out, and it will explode. The EC knows this," he told reporters.
Gandhi was briefly detained along with others as police stopped the protest march by opposition MPs from Parliament House to the EC office.
"They (EC) cannot talk as the truth is before the entire nation," the Congress leader said as he was being taken away in a bus by the police.
"This fight is not political, but for saving the Constitution," he asserted.
This fight is for 'one man, one vote' and we want a clean, pure voter list," the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha added.
He said all the MPs of the INDIA alliance were stopped and taken into custody when they were going to meet the Election Commission.
"The truth of 'vote theft' is now before the country. This fight is not political; it is a fight to protect democracy, the Constitution, and the right to ‘one person, one vote’.
"The united opposition and every voter in the country demand a clean and transparent voter list. And, we will secure this right at all costs," Gandhi claimed in a post on X later.
Gandhi had on Thursday cited data from the 2024 Lok Sabha polls to claim that over 1 lakh votes were "stolen" through five types of manipulation in Mahadevapura assembly segment in Karnataka. He alleged there were 11,965 duplicate voters, 40,009 with fake and invalid addresses, 10,452 bulk voters or single-address voters, 4,132 voters with invalid photos and 33,692 voters misusing Form 6 of new voters.
_vb_89.jpeg)
