PERSONAL OPINION

Rajasthan High Court Judge Mahesh Chandra Sharma’s statement about the cow is his personal opinion (Make cow national

animal, says judge, June 1). His statement that cows inhale and exhale oxygen is wrong. No animal can produce oxygen, that can be done only by plants. Justice Sharma’s opinion that those who kill cows should be given life imprisonment is not justifiable. Mohammad Ayub Mujahid Hyderabad

India is a multi-religious country. Some consider the cow as holy. But for some others it is an eatable item. I think cow slaughter should be banned as the cow gives humans many useful things. I fully support the ban on cow slaughter announced by the Centre. Koyalkar Omprakash Hyderabad

The theory that a peahen gets impregnated by licking the tears of a peacock looks silly. One should check science books or the Net before making this kind of statements. People should not be mislead by myths. Devaki Kondaveti Hyderabad

Justice Mahesh Chand Sharma says the peacock is a celibate. But science says that it is a polygamous bird and that during the mating season it mates with multiple peahens. It uses its colourful feathers to attract females. We selected the peacock as our national bird not because of its sexual habits but because of its beauty and as it kills dangerous, venomous snakes. Jyotsna Prasad Hyderabad