(Ravi Seshu)
Nipping a brewing controversy over Gau Rakshaks’ (protectors of cows) hooliganism in BJP-ruled Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh in the bud, Prime Minister Narendra Modi openly equated them with ‘anti-social elements’ and came up with a definition to the act of cow protection.
Addressing a meeting organised to mark the second anniversary of MyGov platform in the national capital on Saturday, Modi said that most of these people are anti-social elements hiding behind the mask of Gau Rakshaks. “I get so angry at those who are into the Gau-Rakshak business. A Gau-Bhakt (cow devotee) is different, Gau Seva (cow protection) is different. I have seen that some people are into crimes all night and wear the garb ofGau Rakshaks in the day.” In an attempt to put a full stop to the attacks launched by Gau Rakshaks against Dalits, Modi announced that he would urge State governments to prepare a dossier of so-called Gau Rakshaks.
He observed that most cows die because of plastic, not slaughter and the so-called Gau Rakshaks should stop cows from eating plastic.
As some politicians tried to blame BJP for the barbaric attacks of cow protectors against Dailts, Mr.Modi for the first time raised the issue cow vigilantism and distanced his party and himself from the unsavory incidents. It may be recalled that on July 11, four Dalit men were stripped to the waist, flogged, tied to a vehicle and paraded for skinning a dead cow in Una in Gujarat by a group who claimed to be “Gau Rakshaks”. The attackers then uploaded the video online as a warning.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi called on the victims in Una and blamed BJP for this attack. While Arvind went on to extent of calling Gujarat government as anti-Dalit, Rahul Gandhi announced an assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the victims and accused RSS and BJP of “crushing” those against their ideology.
Bahujan Samaj Party leader Maywati created uproar in Rajya Sabha, protesting against beating up of two Muslim women in Madhya Pradesh in the name of cow protection. Anand Sharma (Cong) asked why Prime Minister had not responded to attacks on dalits in name of ‘Gau Raksha’. “He has done ‘chai-pe-charcha’ (talk over tea) and ‘mann-ki-baat’ (straight talk from heart) but why not on this issue,” he asked.
PM’s camp apparently created an opportunity to address the issue.
