I feel infuriated at some people who have opened shops in the name of cow protection. Gujarat has witnessed a string of violent protests over this issue, with dalits demanding stringent action against the cow vigilantes.
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“Some anti-social elements are taking law into their hands in the name of cow protection”.
Questioned repeatedly over his “silence” on the sensitive issue of attacks on Dalits by alleged Hindu right-wingers, Modi said, “I would like to tell these people that if you have any problem, if you have attack, attack me”.
His comments come at a time when the NDA government is facing flak over incidents of violence against dalits and Muslims by cow vigilantes in various states including Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Modi said “I get so angry at those who are into gau rakshak business”.
Fact remains that it is Modi’s earlier incendiary speeches regarding cow slaughter and beef export which have emboldened Gau Rakshak goons.
A former spiritual guru turned Indian official has predicted that World War III will be fought over a cow.
Yesterday too, in his first Town-Hall in Delhi, PM Modi had strongly rebuked the cow vigilantes, saying a lot of them were “anti-social” elements running “shops” in the name of cow protection which made him “angry”.
Since the BJP came to power in 2014, cow protection has become a key issue for the BJP and its supporters such as the Hindu group Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).
“Want to tell everyone to remain alert of fake ‘gau rakshaks’ (cow protectors)”, PM Modi said, adding, “Want to tell state governements to take stern action against these handful of fake ‘gau rakshaks’ involved in anti-social elements”. You can shoot me rather than target the Dalits. Even now, a good eighteen days after four Dalit boys were stripped half naked and beaten up near Una Modi has denounced the atrocities committed on Dalits.
The Congress members trooped into the well despite Speaker Sumitra Mahajan’s assurance that she would let them have their say after the listed business.
Addressing a large public meeting, the prime minister appreciated the state government for the steps taken over the last two years to fulfil the aspirations of the people.
“Among the organisations supporting the BJP were many which stood for protection…”
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Several major states are scheduled to vote for new state governments over the next 12 months. Most prominently, Uttar Pradesh, which goes to polls in the spring of next year, has roughly 40 million Dalits among its population of 204 million.
