Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh on Thursday criticised the ‘Bharatiya Janata Party's hollow commitment to protection of cows'.

He said his state was the first to form a gauseva ayog [commission for service of cows]. "I am saving its [cow] neck while they [BJP] are seeking votes by catching its tail," Singh said in Jabalpur.

In 1958 the government of Central Province [Madhya Bharat] had enacted the first act against killing of cows, he added.

The state government had told the Centre that it was ready to participate in any scheme for the protection of old cows and bullocks, he said.

Singh said gaumutra [cow urine] and gobar [cowdung] can be used for medical and biofertiliser purposes and the financial burden on their protection can be carried out on that basis, Singh said.

On allegations that he was adding fuel to the BJP's Hindutva agenda by making ‘inflammatory' statements against leaders of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the BJP, the chief minister said he was only replying to the questions of the media.