New Delhi: Calling for a total ban on cow slaughter across the country, RSS supremo Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday also condemned the violence unleashed by cow vigilantes, saying it only gave a bad name to the cow protection campaign.
His remarks assume significance as the Narendra Modi government and the BJP are facing flak over the lynching of a 55-year-old man by cow vigilantes in BJP-ruled Rajasthan recently.
There is also a growing perception that cow vigilantism is rising since the Modi government came to power at the Centre in 2014 and with the BJP’s rising graph across the country.
The ongoing Parliament session has also seen an uproar over the Alwar lynching incident, with the Opposition questioning Mr Modi’s silence over the issue. It may be recalled that the PM had severely criticised self-proclaimed cow vigilantes last year after attacks on dalits in Gujarat.
Addressing an event to mark the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira, Mr Bhagwat said the Sangh Parivar was in favour of a total nationwide ban on cow slaughter, but observed that political “complexity” comes in the way of such a total ban. He described cow slaughter as a “nirgun” (vice) and said that it must be removed, but at the same time said cow protection should be promoted in such a way that it wins over more and more people.
