Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi seems to have had enough of the gau rakshaks taking up law in their own hands and "punishing" those they deemed deserving. In separate public addresses in the weekend, PM Modi made his stand clear on the atrocities being perpetrated on the Dalit community, miffing several cow vigilantes, and his party members, in the bid.
Speaking at a public meeting in Medak district, Telangana, Modi lashed out at fake cow vigilantes and warned them of stern action. "I want to tell everybody to be beware of these fake cow protectors. These handful of vigilantes have nothing to do with cow protection, but want to create tanaav and takrav in the society. In the name of cow protection, these fake cow protectors are trying to disturb the peace and harmony of the nation. I want the real cow protectors to expose them. The state governments should take stringent action against them," he said.
The statements came almost 11 months after a mob lynched Mohammad Akhlaq in Uttar Pradesh, for allegedly consuming beef, and a month after four Dalit youth in Gujarat's Una taluka were lashed by cow vigilantes for skinning a dead cow. The community has traditionally been in the profession of skinning dead animals for over centuries. Following the whipping of the four Dalit boys, they abandoned the job and hundreds of dead carcasses were left rotting across the state, since July 11, in protest.
The PM and the Bharatiya Janata Party had faced hell for its lack of steps in favour of the minority communities of the country. Modi asked people to protect and respect Dalits who have long been neglected by the society, in a party address in Hyderabad. "I would like to tell these people that if you have any problem, if you have to attack, attack me. Stop attacking my Dalit brethren. If you have to shoot, shoot me, but not my Dalit brothers. This game should stop." His choice of Hyderabad to denounce the attacks on Dalits was significant as his government faced pressure following the suicide by Dalit student Rohith Vemula last year, which prompted unrest in other parts of the country.
Modi said, "It should be our responsibility to save and respect them. I know this problem is social. It is a result of sins which have crept into the society... But we need to take extra care and save society from such danger." In another statement in New Delhi, Modi denounced cow vigilantism, saying he felt enraged at such "anti-social elements" who indulged in crimes by the night and masqueraded as cow protectors by the day. He also pitched to protect the animal. "Cow will never become a burden. Cow urine and dung are used in agriculture." India is a land of diversity, Modi said, adding "protecting our country's unity and integrity is our primary responsibility. To fulfil it all countrymen should protect and serve cows. Such service enhances national wealth... it does not create problem for the nation."
He claimed that 80 per cent vigilantes are fake. "I feel angry when people, in the name of cow protection, do business. Many people claim to be cow protectors just to hide their illegal trade. Cows mostly die of eating plastic bags and these cow protectors should urge people not to throw plastic on roads, this will be a big service. I’ve seen many people who carry out anti-social activities all night, and during the day they wear the garb of gau rakshaks."
Slamming fake gau rakshaks, he said, "But fake (cow protectors) destroy society and country. We need to be beware of these people. There is a need to punish these people. Then alone can we take the nation to great heights."
The RSS felt that his statements on several cow vigilantes being fake could have been avoided. RSS spokesperson Manmohan Vaidya said, "The 80 per cent remark should have been avoided but the PM later made amends at Hyderabad, saying only a handful of so-called gau rakshaks were fake. And as regards why issue a statement after the Dalit flogging, it should not be seen as a caste or religion issue. The RSS has always espoused the cause of gau raksha."
