The Uttar Pradesh government has granted conditional permission to Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati to organise a cow protection gathering in Lucknow on March 11. Authorities have imposed 26 conditions on the event to ensure law and order.
The Shankaracharya, who heads the Jyotish Peetha, is currently on a padyatra to mobilise support for the ‘Gau Mata Pratishtha Sankalp Mahasabha’. After reaching Lucknow by Tuesday evening, he will launch a major cow protection campaign at the Kanshi Ram Smriti Cultural Centre on Wednesday.
According to administrative sources, the conditions have been put in place to maintain peace, traffic flow, and public safety during the event. Organisers have been directed to ensure that no inflammatory speeches are made against any religion, caste, sect, or language. The state government has also barred controversial remarks against political or religious figures and prohibited minor children from chanting controversial slogans.
Officials have further stated that weapons or any other lethal objects will not be allowed at the venue. Memorandums can only be submitted to authorised officials, and the organisers will be held responsible for any law and order issues that arise during the event.
The administration has also made it clear that the organisers will bear the cost of police deployment for the programme. Loudspeakers, drums, and music will be prohibited in designated quiet zones, and noise pollution rules will be strictly enforced under environmental regulations.
Authorities warned that if any of the conditions are violated, the permission granted for the event will automatically stand cancelled.
Earlier on Tuesday, Shankaracharya arrived in Naimisharanya, where he criticised the government over issues such as rising inflation, unemployment, and increasing crime in the country. He emphasised the importance of cow protection, saying that safeguarding cows would help protect the world.
“Whenever cows are in danger, the country faces a crisis,” he said, adding that the public also wants the resolution regarding “Mother Cow” to be fulfilled and that the cow should be accorded the status of “Mother of the Nation”.
Referring to ongoing conflicts across the world, he stated that such disasters occur when cows are endangered and urged people to contribute to their protection.
Shankaracharya had reached Sitapur on Monday night, where he performed prayers at temples and ashrams on Tuesday morning before proceeding to Naimisharanya, a site of mythological significance associated with cow protection. Describing the place as a historic centre where sages once served cows, he said he had come to seek blessings there for the cow protection movement.
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