“Rakshaks (protectors) can never be bhakshaks (predators)”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech on Thursday against lynch mobs has irked the Nation, including saffron fringe as the statements came without any legal actions. Additionally it appeared like a usual formality. It neither impressed the supporter nor the opposition.
Words are not enough, strict action against killing under the garb of cow protection was required, said opposition parties.
“Killing people in the name of Gau bhakti (cow worship) is not acceptable” said PM at Mahatma Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat.
Interestingly, it did not go down well with Vishwa Hindu Parishad which had also taken exception to the PM’s 2016 remark of “anti-socials by night and gau rakshaks by day” earlier.
“It was against violence. But people who worship cows do not take lives of people,” said VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal.
“Rakshaks (protectors) can never be bhakshaks (predators)” when asked to comment on PM condemning growing mob lynching in the name of cow protection.
“Cow protectors do not sniff out lives of individuals,” said Bansal countering that even the use of phrase Gau bhakt by the PM is unsuitable.
The VHP leader said that it should not be forgotten that Mahatma Gandhi had also wished that a law on cow protection should be brought. He described killing to protect cows as a law and order failure.
Protests with the campaign name ‘NotInMyName’ was carried out in major cities including the national capital on Wednesday to gather more voices against lynching of minorities.
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi also expressed his dissatisfaction over Modi’s position.
“Too little too late. Words mean nothing when actions out do them”, Rahul Gandhi posted on the social media.
“Condemn killings in the name of gau raksha, just words are not enough. Modi trying to subvert democracy. The killings must stop now,” West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee too joined the chorus.
“Presence of Gandhiji’s living spirit in Sabarmati Ashram” must have affected Modi. What he has said is absolutely right, but it should be followed by very strong action on the ground. All the perpetrators (of hate crimes) have to be caught and prosecuted and the public’s confidence in (law and order) has to be revived,” Mahatma Gandhi’s grandson Gopalkrishna Gandhi passed out a sarcastic comment on Modi’s mere words.
“The PM’s statement was a mere lip service as there has been slip between cup and lip,” said All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi