Nepalgunj, September 1

Minister of Urban Development Mohammad Estiyak Rai today expressed sorrow over the mass death of cows and oxen in Surkhet.

Speaking at a press meet organised in Nepalgunj, Minister Rai said the cow was the national animal and the death of cows went beyond religion and faith.

Rai expressed hope that the guilty would be booked as the home ministry had already formed a four-member panel to investigate the mass death of cows and oxen.

“Though I am a Muslim, I have great reverence for cows. I offer my prayer to the cow as sacred mother. I do not have to politicise cows,” Rai added.

Rai pledged initiative to develop Nepalgunj as it was his constituency.

Rai informed that the process was under way to sanction a budget of Rs two billion for the development of Nepalgunj.