VHP attacks PM on cow, says he will ‘pay in 2019’

Differences seem to have surfaced between the RSS and the VHP over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks against self-proclaimed “cow vigilantes” who have let loose a series of attacks on dalits. The RSS condemned the attacks on dalits and termed the violence “inhuman”, urging state governments to take action against elements trying to “disturb communal harmony and trust”.

While the RSS backed Mr Modi’s move for action against the “gau rakshak” outfits, reports from Ahmedabad said the VHP, in an unsigned statement, called Mr Modi’s “anti-socials by night and gau rakshaks by day” remark shocking and an insult to “cow protectors”. It also warned that the BJP will pay a heavy price for it in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

“Thousands of butchers killing one lakh cows every year are not termed ‘goondas’ and gau rakshaks like Gita Rambhiya (killed in Ahmedabad years ago) are termed ‘goondas’... This shows your change of heart,” said a statement by the VHP’s Gujarat unit, which demanded a nationwide law banning cow slaughter.

In Agra, VHP Braj region vice-chief Sunil Parashar said the PM’s remarks have “hurt” gau rakshaks and that “he will have to pay for it in the next Lok Sabha polls”.

Saying that the VHP was the only outfit which worked for cow protection, Mr Parashar said the government must conduct a survey to identify who have beef-running shops in the name of gau raksha. He also told the PM to stop being friendly with Pakistan as this would “cost him the Centre’s chair”. The VHP vowed to continue its work on cow protection, saying it had been doing it for a long time and would continue to do so. The Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha’s Aligarh wing held a protest against the PM.

In a statement, RSS general secretary Bhaiyya Joshi said: “We appeal to all sections of society to remain aware of elements who want to disturb communal harmony and trust. We expect the administration to take speedy action against such individuals and groups who break the law.”

He said taking the law into one’s own hands to harass dalits was not only illegal, but also inhuman.

Significantly, the RSS had also issued a statement on Sunday denouncing the attacks on dalits. Mr Joshi said several political parties and leaders of various castes were trying to create a situation of uncertainty, which was not conducive to harmony.

Refusing to comment on attacks on dalits and Muslims by cow vigilantes, VHP joint general secretary Surendra Jain said there was a lot of controversy about it. “We will not like to comment on the issue. However, cow protection has been going on for long. We will continue to work for it,” Dr Jain said.