Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has clarified that the BJP and the Sangh family support a ban on cow slaughter, but “condemn” vigilantism in the name of cow protection. The minister even went on to say that people who are spreading such vigilantism are “not our people”.
Gadkari’s remarks are the toughest repudiation of cow vigilante groups by the PM Modi government. These groups attracted backlash by its rivals over violence perpetrated by the so-called “gau rakshaks”.
Notably, gau rakshaks have cruelly beaten up people, some even to death.
Such incidents brought communal tension and tarnishing PM Modi’s efforts to concentrate on economic development that Gadkari said was the main agenda.
Gadkari also denounced the idea of linking every saffron-clad person with the BJP.
“BJP, VHP, Sangh (parivar) and our government do not support such elements.”
