CM Mohan Yadav Sparks Controversy Again, Says 'Gopal' Refers to Cowherds, Not Lord Krishna

After his earlier remarks questioning the nickname “Makhanchor” (butter thief) for Lord Krishna, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav has once again stirred controversy with a fresh statement. During a Govardhan Puja event, Yadav objected to another popular title for Lord Krishna, saying the name “Gopal” is often misunderstood and is actually used to refer to cowherds.

Addressing devotees, the Chief Minister said that people should refrain from calling God by names that misrepresent his identity. He added, “Two things were very dear to Lord Krishna—village culture and respect for the people. By wearing a peacock crown, he honored the rural way of life. But when we call him ‘Gopal,’ we do so mistakenly. Gopal means one who tends cows; that word does not apply to him in that sense. Lord Krishna made everyone understand that we all are Gopal in spirit.”

Yadav’s statement follows his previous comment about the term “Makhanchor.” Earlier, he had said that the phrase wrongly implies mischief. Explaining the context, he stated that Krishna’s act of taking butter symbolized a rebellion against injustice, as the butter was being unfairly sent to Kansa’s palace. “He told the village children to eat their own butter or break the pots, but not let it reach the enemy. It was an act of defiance, not theft,” Yadav had remarked.