The Wire Staff 
New Delhi: A recent video of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras director V. Kamakoti, where he is heard praising the medicinal benefits of cow urine, has resulted in strong reactions from rationalists and politicians.
“A prominent sanyasi developed a fever. The idea of calling a doctor was suggested to him… I forgot the name of that sanyasi. He immediately said he would drink gomutra. Gomutra was immediately brought, and he consumed it with much ease. The fever seemed to have disappeared in 15 minutes. So, for antibacterial, antifungal, digestive issues, and irritable bowel syndrome – for many such issues – gomutra is a very important medicine,” Kamakoti had said at a ‘Go Samrakshana Sala’ event in Chennai on January 15, reported The Indian Express.
The event coincided with the Tamil festival of Maatu Pongal, which also celebrates cattle and honours the contribution of livestock.
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram said in a post on X that “peddling pseudoscience” is “most unbecoming” of the director of IIT Madras.
The Dravidar Kazhagam, a rationalist organisation that was founded by social reformer Periyar said that the IIT Madras director was spreading “unscientific ideas” and demanded that Kamakoti presents scientific evidence to support his claims or face protests.
During the event, Kamakoti had also claimed that indigenous cow breed is on the verge of extinction and technological interventions are needed to stop this trend.