Last week, after her request for a visa extension was denied, Bruening threatened to return the top civilian award 'Padma Shri' that she had received in recognition for her work towards cow protection.
Following this, Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj took to Twitter announcing that she had asked for a detailed report in the matter. On Monday, Bruening received a new visa allowing her to continue to stay in India.
"We have around 1,800 cows in our shelter at the moment. Five to fifteen cows are brought in every day," says Bruening.
Living in India for last 25 years, Bruening, 61, has spent around USD 225,000 from her own pocket on running the cow shelter. The monthly cost of running the shelter is around USD 45,000.
Many of the cows brought in there are visually impaired or wounded in road accidents, while some are sick after having consumed large amounts of plastic waste. Fifty per cent of cows that come in usually die.
Bruening, who is now known as Sudevi Dasi after having converted to Hinduism, says “killing a cow is the worst thing one can do.”
The cow protection movement has been a religious and political movement in India aiming to protect cows, whose slaughter has been broadly opposed by Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs.
The laws prohibiting slaughter and consumption of beef have been strengthened in the country, prompting people to abandon their old and week cows which they earlier used to sell for slaughter.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently said cows were an important part of India’s tradition and culture.
The laws prohibiting slaughter and consumption of beef have been strengthened in the country, prompting people to abandon their old and week cows which they earlier used to sell for slaughter.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently said cows were an important part of India’s tradition and culture.
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