In a bizarre incident that has sparked controversy, BJP MLA Balmukund Acharya took it upon himself to ‘purify’ the Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMCH) office with a mixture of Gangajal (holy water from the Ganges River) and cow urine, claiming to cleanse it of alleged corruption. The act, performed on Wednesday, involved sprinkling the mixture on councillors and officials, who also symbolically ‘drank’ it by having it applied to their faces, including their lips. This unconventional purification ceremony followed the appointment of a new Mayor, Kusum Yadav, who replaced the previous Mayor, Munesh Gurjar, amidst allegations of corruption.
The BJP had removed Gurjar from her position, citing these accusations. Yadav, who gained support from seven Congress turncoats and one independent councillor, secured a majority to take over the position. Acharya, the MLA for the Hawa Mahal constituency, asserted that the mixture of Gangajal and cow urine had effectively cleansed the office of impurities and corruption. He stated, “We have purified it with Gangajal and removed all impurities. And after prayers with Vedic mantras, behenji (the new Mayor) has assumed charge on this navami date. Now there will be an environment of purity in the municipal corporation.”
The incident has drawn criticism from various quarters, with many questioning the rationale and efficacy of such a ritualistic cleansing method. Acharya, however, remains steadfast in his belief. He told The Indian Express, “I sprinkled Gangajal and gamutra in the JMC office to address the corruption. From today, the JMCH is corruption-free.” He further revealed that he carries a bottle containing the mixture in his car and drinks it daily. He justified the act by saying, “They can’t say that the dash of water didn’t touch them.”
When asked whether the JMCH officials were also subjected to the Gangajal and cow urine mixture, Acharya responded, “Gangajal and gamutra has been fed to everyone before the Mayor assumes charge. In our culture, Gangajal and gamutra are fed so that in case you have committed any crimes, you are free of them now. Now you are sanatani, work with purity…”.
This incident follows a similar controversy involving BJP leader Pragya Thakur, who in May 2021 claimed that cow urine extract protects from coronavirus and lung infections. She stated that she takes cow urine daily and it has protected her from Covid-19. However, research conducted by the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) found that urine samples from healthy cows contained 14 types of harmful bacteria, with Escherichia coli, a common cause of stomach infections, being the most frequently detected. This incident has raised questions about the scientific validity of such claims and highlights the growing trend of using cow urine for medicinal purposes, despite limited scientific evidence.
The purification ceremony performed by Balmukund Acharya has once again brought the use of cow urine into the limelight and has ignited a debate on its efficacy in addressing corruption and other issues. While some may view it as a harmless ritual, others see it as a symbol of blind faith and the misuse of religious beliefs for political gain. This incident serves as a reminder of the complexities of faith, tradition, and politics in India, where the lines between belief and reality can sometimes blur.
