Cannot tolerate anarchy in the name of cow protection: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday issued a stern warning to those triggering anarchy in the name of cow protection and asked state governments to take stern action against them.

The strong message from the Prime Minister came at an all party meeting on the eve on the monsoon session of Parliament where opposition parties are gearing to corner the Modi government on increasing incidents of cow vigilantism among other issues.

“Some anti-social elements have made cow protection as a medium to spread anarchy. Those interested in disturbing the amity in the country are benefiting from it,” Modi said at a meeting attended by senior opposition leaders.

Noting that such incidents affect the image of the nation, the prime minister asked state government to take strict action against such anti-social elements.

“We revere the cow as our mother. People's emotions are attached. But we have to understand that there is a law to protect the cow. Breaking laws is not an option,” Modi said. He said the Cenre has issued advisories to the state government and tough action should be take against such anti-social elements.

“Maintaining law and order is a state subject. … the state governments should also examined whether some people were settling personal scores in the name of cow protection,” the prime minister said.

Modi also asked political parties to refrain from giving political or communal colour to incidents of cow vigilantism.

“All political parties must condemn the hooliganism that is being carried out in the name of cow protection,” he said.

This is the second time in less than a month that Modi has denounced violence in the name of cow protection. On June 29, he had criticised cow vigilantes during a visit to the Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad.

Invoking Mahatma Gandhi, the prime minister said “He would have shown us what a true gau rakshak is. He would have never approved of cow vigilantism.”

His remarks had come days after a teenager was killed in an alleged incident of cow vigilantism on a train near Delhi.