The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Saturday issued a strongly worded statement against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speeches on cow vigilantism, saying that it gave a “clean chit to cow butchers and called Hindu cow protectors anti-social.”
“The VHP expresses its utmost dissatisfaction with the statements of the Prime Minister and the Union government’s advisory [to the States to punish Gau rakshaks],” according to the statement issued after a press conference by VHP international working president Pravin Togadia.
“The issue is to save cows. There could have been a meaningful dialogue initiated by the Union government with the organisations, groups and people associated with cow protection. Those who are ready to talk to the enemy Pakistan should have…initiated a meaningful dialogue between the Hindus and Gau Rakshaks on lawful means to protect the cow,” Mr. Togadia said.
He questioned Mr. Modi’s claim on cow vigilantism that 80 per cent of cow protectors were “anti-social” and most cows died after consuming plastic. “The VHP requests the head of the nation to explain this statement.”
“Racial profiling”
The government’s directive to the States to maintain dossiers on cow vigilantes amounted to “racial profiling” of Hindus as they were the ones who laid down their lives for cow protection.
“Special dossiers are made on terrorists and serial rapists. Here, the dossiers are being made on Hindu ‘Gau Rakshaks’ but not cow killers,” he said.