Cow Urine Controversy: IIT-Madras Director, BJP Leader Weigh in on 'Medicinal Claims'

Chennai: The debate surrounding cow urine's purported medicinal properties took a new turn this week when former Tamil Nadu BJP president and allopathic doctor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan defended IIT-Madras Director V. Kamakoti's controversial statements. Kamakoti, who had previously claimed that cow urine has antifungal, antibacterial, and even fever-curing properties, has been facing strong opposition for endorsing such claims without clear scientific backing.

At an event in Nungambakkam, Soundararajan supported the IIT director, highlighting that cow urine has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine, citing its proven effectiveness in research. "We cannot completely ignore the medicinal value of cow urine. It is considered as medicine in Ayurveda and it has been scientifically researched," said Soundararajan.

This statement, however, did not go unnoticed, attracting backlash from several political parties, including the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), who expressed concern over the “medicinal” status of cow urine. Seeman, the leader of NTK, criticized the widespread acceptance of unscientific claims and labeled the treatment as an unfortunate part of societal customs.

Further fueling the debate, Dr. G.R. Ravindranath, president of the Doctors’ Association for Social Equality, dismissed the claims, stressing there is no medical evidence to support the use of cow urine in treating illnesses. He warned that consuming cow urine could lead to bacterial infections.

In response to critics, Kamakoti reiterated his stance, assuring that scientific evidence supports cow urine’s therapeutic effects. As the controversy grows, Tamil Nadu continues to witness heated discussions surrounding traditional medicine, science, and the role of alternative therapies in modern health practices.