New Delhi: A day after breaking his silence on the recent incidents of violence by cow vigilantes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday once again called for stringent action against fake cow protectors.
Speaking at the inauguration function of Telangana’s drinking water programme ‘Mission Bhagiratha’,, the PM urged the people and all the state governments to be wary of people he termed ‘fake cow protectors’.
“I request the state governments to make a list of such fake vigilantes and take stringent action against them. These people do not care about protection of cows. They just want to create tension in society in the name of cow protection,” PM Modi said.
“India is a county full of diversities, different values and traditions and protecting its “unity and integrity is our prime responsibility,” PM said, adding that a ‘handful of such people were destroying the social fabric and creating conflict in our society’, The Times of India reported.
On Saturday, PM Modi had spoken about such self-proclaimed ‘Gau Rakshaks’ at his townhall-style meet in New Delhi. “I feel very angry at this Gau Raksha( cow protection) business. Some people indulge in anti-social activities in night and turn ‘Gau Rakshaks’ during the day. They have opened “shops” in name of cow protection. All states should take stern action against these people,” the PM said while addressing the event at the Indira Gandhi Stadium Complex in New Delhi.
In his address in Telangana, he also urged the ‘true cow protectors’ to identify these people with vested interests because a handful of fake cow protectors are giving a bad name to the entire community of people who truly care and worship cows. The PM said he salutes real “gau rakshaks” and “gau sevaks” and appealed them to come forward to expose fake “gau rakshaks”. “I appeal to you to come forward lest the good work being done by you will be destroyed by a handful of people for their selfish interests,” he added. He also appealed people to link cow with agriculture, saying this will give stability to the sector and contribute to economic development. “Cow is an asset and it can never become a burden,” he remarked.
Prime Minister’s comments come at a time when his government and the BJP are facing a lot of flak over incidents of violence against Dalits and Muslims by cow vigilantes in various states including Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. The opposition parties had been criticising the Prime Minister for his “silence” amid growing incidents of such attacks.