Delhi CM Rekha Gupta Urges Public Not to Feed Cows on Roads, Cites Safety and Cultural Concerns

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has urged residents of the capital to refrain from feeding stray cows on the streets, citing safety concerns for both animals and people. In a video shared on her official X (formerly Twitter) account, Ms. Gupta is seen requesting a man not to throw a roti from his car to a cow standing on the roadside.

आज राजधानी में भ्रमण के दौरान, मैंने देखा कि एक व्यक्ति ने अपनी कार से रोटी सड़क पर फेंकी- संभवतः गाय को खिलाने के उद्देश्य से। मैंने गाड़ी रुकवाई और उस व्यक्ति से आग्रह किया कि कृपया ऐसा दोबारा न करें।
रोटी हमारे लिए केवल भोजन नहीं है, वह हमारी संस्कृति, श्रद्धा और सम्मान का… pic.twitter.com/PS0bYmOBG6 — Rekha Gupta (@gupta_rekha) April 12, 2025

Approaching the man with folded hands, the first-time BJP MLA introduced herself and gently advised him against the act. “Feeding cows by throwing food on roads encourages them to gather in traffic-heavy areas, putting their lives and public safety at risk,” she explained in Hindi.

She further emphasized that food—especially roti—holds cultural and spiritual significance and should be treated with respect. “If you truly wish to feed animals, please do so at a gaushala (cow shelter) or a designated safe space. This reflects our responsibility, compassion, and values,” she added.

The appeal comes in the wake of a recent incident where Ms. Gupta’s convoy was delayed for 15 minutes on the Haiderpur flyover due to stray cattle obstructing the road. The Chief Minister personally stepped out of her vehicle to assess the situation, after which her security team safely guided the animals away.

Following the incident, Ms. Gupta instructed authorities to ensure better shelter arrangements for stray cattle in the city. Notably, the Delhi government has earmarked ₹40 crore in its annual budget to establish a state-of-the-art ‘Model Gaushala’ to tackle the issue sustainably.