Cow only animal that inhales, exhales oxygen, says Uttarakhand CM Rawat

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has kicked up a row by claiming that cow is the only animal which inhales and exhales oxygen, and has asserted breathing problems can be cured by massaging it.

A video went viral on Thursday showing Rawat extolling the medicinal properties of cow milk and urine at a function here. In the video, he can be heard saying cows not only inhale oxygen but also exhale it.

The chief minister also said that massaging a cow can cure one of breathing problems, while living in close proximity with the animal can cure one of tuberculosis.

The chief minister's cow eulogy comes after Pradesh BJP president and Nainital MP Ajay Bhatt recently said that pregnant women can avoid cesarean deliveries if they drink water of Garud Ganga, a river in Bageshwar district.

An official at the CMO defended the chief minister's remarks saying that he was only stating something which is a common belief in the hills of Uttarakhand.

"While the medicinal values of cow milk and urine are well known, people in the hills also believe that the cow gives them oxygen," he said requesting anonymity.

Earlier BJP MP from Bhopal Pragya Thakur also shocked the medical fraternity by claiming that blood pressure can be cured if you touch and rub a cow in a certain way.

"If you rub gau mata from the back towards the neck she will be pleased. If you do it every day, your BP will stay in control," she said