Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Tuesday not just seemingly disagreed with Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the role and antecedents of ‘gau rakshaks’, or cow protectors, but also advised state administrations to treat these cow vigilantes differently and not equate them with those who attempt to create disharmony in society.
In early August and in the wake of atrocities on Dalit youths by groups of cow vigilantes, including in his home state of Gujarat, the prime minister had said at a MyGov event in New Delhi that most of these ‘gau rakshaks’ were anti-social elements in the garb of cow protectors, and advised state police forces to deal with them with severity. A day later, Modi had repeated this at a public rally in Telangana.
This apparent disagreement between the prime minister and Bhagwat over the status of cow vigilantes comes at an inopportune time for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). For more than a year, Modi, BJP President Shah and other leaders have reached out to Dalits across the country, particularly in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.
Bhagwat’s comments are also reminiscent of his statements demanding a review of caste-based job quotas in the run up to the Bihar Assembly elections in November 2015. The BJP-led alliance suffered a debacle in the Bihar polls. Party leaders, including members of Parliament from Bihar, had then blamed Bhagwat for having contributed to the defeat.
Bhagwat spoke at length on several issues confronting the nation at the RSS foundation day celebrations at its headquarters in Nagpur. The RSS was founded on Vijayadashami day in 1925 and the RSS chief delivers the foundation day address on the day. The RSS on Tuesday celebrated its 91st foundation day by replacing its traditional khaki shorts with full length trousers.
According to the English rendition of his speech, Bhagwat said it was a matter of shame if people were being insulted or beaten up by their coreligionists “because of one’s wrath over a trivial issue or one’s superiority complex” – a reference to upper caste youth stripping and beating up Dalits for skinning cows.
He said such incidents gave “divisive forces” an opportunity to tarnish the reputation of Bharat (India) and slow down efforts to protect and augment the indigenous varieties of cows. He said that prohibiting cow slaughter was part of the Directive Principles of the Constitution, and groups carrying forward this mission were doing it within the framework of the Constitution. He said that while in many states cow slaughter is banned, “but sometimes in some places in these states the ‘gau sevaks’ have to do active campaigns to ensure proper implementation of such laws”.
However, contradicting the prime minister's earlier statement, Bhagwat said, “But they cannot be compared to those undesirable elements who create disharmony.” He said that the “sacred mission of ‘gau sevaks’ would continue and gather momentum”. He also said that despite “grave provocation” the “law abiding” gau sevaks are carrying out their activities without violating the law and will continue to do so.
Bhagwat said that in ensuring law and order, administrations should not weigh the law abiding ‘gau sevaks’ on the same scale as those who violate the law. He also said that some sections in the media sensationalise reporting on such issues for commercial gains.
The RSS chief lauded the Modi government for doing good work. He said that the recent surgical strikes have raised the prestige of the Indian Army globally, and it has also sent a message to those – a reference to Pakistan and terror groups – attempting to create trouble in India. Bhagwat said that the government needed to be congratulated.
-Source IANS
In early August and in the wake of atrocities on Dalit youths by groups of cow vigilantes, including in his home state of Gujarat, the prime minister had said at a MyGov event in New Delhi that most of these ‘gau rakshaks’ were anti-social elements in the garb of cow protectors, and advised state police forces to deal with them with severity. A day later, Modi had repeated this at a public rally in Telangana.
This apparent disagreement between the prime minister and Bhagwat over the status of cow vigilantes comes at an inopportune time for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). For more than a year, Modi, BJP President Shah and other leaders have reached out to Dalits across the country, particularly in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.
Bhagwat’s comments are also reminiscent of his statements demanding a review of caste-based job quotas in the run up to the Bihar Assembly elections in November 2015. The BJP-led alliance suffered a debacle in the Bihar polls. Party leaders, including members of Parliament from Bihar, had then blamed Bhagwat for having contributed to the defeat.
Bhagwat spoke at length on several issues confronting the nation at the RSS foundation day celebrations at its headquarters in Nagpur. The RSS was founded on Vijayadashami day in 1925 and the RSS chief delivers the foundation day address on the day. The RSS on Tuesday celebrated its 91st foundation day by replacing its traditional khaki shorts with full length trousers.
According to the English rendition of his speech, Bhagwat said it was a matter of shame if people were being insulted or beaten up by their coreligionists “because of one’s wrath over a trivial issue or one’s superiority complex” – a reference to upper caste youth stripping and beating up Dalits for skinning cows.
He said such incidents gave “divisive forces” an opportunity to tarnish the reputation of Bharat (India) and slow down efforts to protect and augment the indigenous varieties of cows. He said that prohibiting cow slaughter was part of the Directive Principles of the Constitution, and groups carrying forward this mission were doing it within the framework of the Constitution. He said that while in many states cow slaughter is banned, “but sometimes in some places in these states the ‘gau sevaks’ have to do active campaigns to ensure proper implementation of such laws”.
However, contradicting the prime minister's earlier statement, Bhagwat said, “But they cannot be compared to those undesirable elements who create disharmony.” He said that the “sacred mission of ‘gau sevaks’ would continue and gather momentum”. He also said that despite “grave provocation” the “law abiding” gau sevaks are carrying out their activities without violating the law and will continue to do so.
Bhagwat said that in ensuring law and order, administrations should not weigh the law abiding ‘gau sevaks’ on the same scale as those who violate the law. He also said that some sections in the media sensationalise reporting on such issues for commercial gains.
The RSS chief lauded the Modi government for doing good work. He said that the recent surgical strikes have raised the prestige of the Indian Army globally, and it has also sent a message to those – a reference to Pakistan and terror groups – attempting to create trouble in India. Bhagwat said that the government needed to be congratulated.
-Source IANS