JAIPUR: Rajasthan education minister Vasudev Devnani, the recent target of social media trolls for his remarks on the cow being the only animal to "exhale oxygen", stood by his claim, on Tuesday, basing it on "research websites".
"I read this fact on research websites and it recently appeared in a magazine of Akshya Patra, saying that cow inhales and exhales oxygen and included this in my speech on Saturday at the programme organised by Akshya Patra foundation at Hingonia cow rehabilitation centre," the education minister said, reacting to the criticism. He reiterated that the reference on the scientific significance of the cow can be found in "research studies".
Various studies have been conducted on the cow, its urine and dung, and "people need to understand its scientific values," said Devnani whose Wikipedia Page claims him to a BE degree holder in Electrical Engineering.
"The Gaumutra's benefits and its medicinal values are well known and people use and avail its benefits. The burning of cow dung makes the environment free of harmful micro-organisms and mosquitoes, making the place suitable for living," he said.
"Scientific journals and research papers are the base of my statements," he said.