Vigilantism out of control

The cow-protection rhetoric of the ruling party has emboldened right-wing vigilante groups to such an extent it is cleaving society like never before. Those actively donning the role of vigilante may be lumpen elements, but unless they are reined in at once by clear directions from the very top of the BJP, the situation is going to get totally out of hand, most of all in BJP-ruled states like Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, even if the problem first surfaced in UP with the distressing killing of Mohammed Akhlaq on the merest whiff of suspicion of eating beef. The damage to harmony in society is there for all to see, which is why the officious response of authorities in the states where most incidents are taking place is failing so miserably.

The Una incident in Gujarat, a challenge to civilised behaviour in a time so far from the Dark Ages, laid bare the animal treatment meted out to dalits. Those who have no formal jobs are tasked with tending to cows that may have died of natural causes and yet here they are being victimised by the very society they serve, even if in such a pitiably menial way. What we are seeing is the spreading of a social evil that needs a wholesome response from the highest authorities if it is to be contained before it divides our caste and community-ridden society even more. This vigilantism is breeding violence of such a scale that a number of people have died this year. It is time the Centre sent out a message to all states that intimidation of people by cow vigilantes will not be tolerated.