PARLIAMENT UPROAR OVER VIGILANTES, DALIT ATTACKS

NEW DELHI: The Congress led the Opposition charge against the government over cattle-related lynchings and anti-Dalit attacks in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, leading to noisy scenes and repeated adjournments through the day.

“Mob lynching cases in the name of cow protection have increased across the country in the last three years. Those involved in the lynchings are being protected by the ruling party,” alleged Ghulam Nabi Az ad, party leader and head of the Opposition in the upper house.

He also asked if these attacks were being carried out “in an understanding” with the ruling BJP.

On June 29, Prime Minister Narendra Modi instructed leaders of every state to clamp down on people who indulge in vigilantism in the name of cow protection. The ruckus reached a crescendo in the afternoon, when members of the treasury benches said certain remarks made by Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Naresh Agarwal were hurtful to the sentiments of the majority community.

Though pandemonium prevailed for awhile, the matter was resolved after the member apologised and there marks were expunged by the chair.

The issue took centrestage in the morning, when SP leaders stormed the well of the House to express dissatisfaction over the Centre’s response to a question on lynchings carried out in the name of cow protection.