Communal violence over cow protection must be curbed sternly: Modi

ACT TOUGH: PM says state governments should act tough against ‘antisocial elements’

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged state governments to act tough against “antisocial elements” who break law and sought opposition support to tackle the “issue of communal violence in the name of cow protection”.

“Some antisocial elements have incited violence in the name of cow protection. Those engaged in disturbing the harmony in the country are trying to take advantage of the situation,” Modi said at an allparty meeting ahead of Parliament’s monsoon session that begins on Monday.

He asked state governments to “deal sternly against such antisocial elements”, according to an official statement quoting the Prime Minister from his address to floor leaders of parties in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha in Parliament House.

“Maintaining law and order is the responsibility of state governments and wherever these incidents are taking place, the state governments must deal firmly with it. The state governments must also see to it that in the name of cow protection some people are settling personal rivalry.”

Attacks on people accused of beef eating or slaughtering cows have raised concerns as the targets of such violence have been minorities and Dalits.

Modi had spoken against cow vigilantes earlier as well. But that had little impact on curbing the violent incidents.

An estimated 30 people have been killed in cow-related violence since 2010. According to an analysis of IndiaSpend, a data journalism initiative, out of 63 cases of mob lynching recorded since 2010, 61 took place after Modi took power.

Twenty-four of the 28 people killed in the attacks were Muslims. In the first half of 2017, there were 20 cow or beef-related attacks in India.

Modi sought opposition support in curbing the violence that “has an impact on the image of the nation”.

He “urged all parties to extend their support to the government in fighting corruption and the issue of communal violence in the name of cow protection”, another statement from the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs said.