UK temple sues charity for slaughter

LONDON: Britain’s biggest Hindu temple has sued an animal welfare charity in protest over the killing of a sacred cow.

A group of priests from Bhaktivedanta Manor Hindu temple,  Hertfordshire, on Friday served legal papers on the Royal Society  for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) for trespassing and killing the temple’s sacred cow Gangotri on December 13 last year.

Temple president Gauri Das said “The RSPCA unlawfully trespassed on temple property and killed the cow, which was under veterinary care and was recovering. There was absolutely no reason for her to be killed.”

The cow was killed while priests were worshipping, and the temple alleged that the RSPCA used an illegal warrant to enter their property.

The charity was in negotiations with the temple for weeks over the mercy killing of the 13-year-old animal because it had a broken leg and had bed sores.

Mr John Rolls, RSPCA director of animal welfare promotion, said,  “We believe we acted properly, within the law, but clearly they are of a different opinion. I am sorry it has got to this point.” Radha Mohan Das, a spokesman for the temple, said the RSPCA’s actions “were an insult and a threat to the Hindu community.”

The RSPCA apologised for any offense caused, saying, “We will always seek to respect religious views, but the most important thing is to stop animals suffering,” the Independent reported.