"I Drink Cow Urine Everyday": Pragya Thakur's COVID-19 Recommendation Gets Backlash

Pragya Thakur cow urine suggestion outrages internet: Sadhvi Pragya, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Member of Parliament for Bhopal, is at the receiving end of massive criticism after suggesting cow urine as a preventive measure for coronavirus.

"If we have desi gau mutra (urine from an indigenous cow) every day, then it cures lung infection from covid. I am in deep pain but I take cow urine every day. So now, I don't have have to take any medicine against corona and I don't have corona," she said addressing a party meet, in a video doing the rounds online. She added, "Cow urine is a life-saver."

At a time when India grapples with a national health crisis, clocking in just under 3 lakh cases as of May 17, with an overburdened healthcare system putting doctors and nurses under pressure, Thakur's remarks have earned the ire of citizens and been deemed "highly irresponsible".

Watch the video below: 

"गौ मूत्र लेने से फेफड़ों का इंफेक्शन दूर होता है, मैं लेती हूं इसलिए मुझे कोरोना नहीं हुआ" :

- BJP सांसद प्रज्ञा@drharshvardhan - Sir, is it true? pic.twitter.com/jLdyR2PBSs

— Srinivas B V (@srinivasiyc) May 17, 2021

Insult To Medical Community: Pragya Thakur Cow Urine Suggestion Angers Netizens

The medical community has repeatedly debunked circulating claims and issued warnings against using traditional techniques such as cow urine or dung in an attempt to tackle COVID-19. "There is no concrete scientific evidence that cow dung or urine work to boost immunity against COVID-19, it is based entirely on belief," Dr JA Jayalal, national president of Indian Medical Association has said.

Known for making controversial statements, Thakur is being criticised online for perpetrating potentially dangerous suggestions. Some social media reactions: 

"We're in 21th century, where our Doctors and nurses are working day and night, and their lives are on stake but still they are fighting. Still we losing our loved ones, because of these silly MPs and ministers. Pathetic!" one user wrote.

"Statements like these are a shame to all the virologists, front line workers who are doing everything within and beyond their capacity to save lives," another wrote.

"Highly irresponsible. MP must be censured," said another user.

This is not the first time Thakur has peddled the alleged benefits of cow urine. In 2019, while speaking about seeking treatment for breast cancer, she publicly stated, "A mixture of gau mutr and other cow products cured my cancer." Doctors, however, who were reportedly involved in the process of her treatment, dismissed claims of cow urine and said the politician had undergone several surgeries for cancer.