‘Hindu helpline’ to check beef sale, cow slaughter in Jharkhand

Helpline will have greater relevance of giving fast medical aid, business assistance, security and legal support to all Hindu brothers SUMAN SWAROOP, VHP’s Ranchi chief

RANCHI: A clutch of right-wing groups have announced a “Hindu helpline” for BJP-ruled Jharkhand to thwart cow slaughter and beef trade in the tribal state amid communal concerns in parts of the country following a spate of violence over sale and killing of cattle.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Shiv Sena and Bajrang Dal are likely to launch the service by early next year, which they say will boost the sentiments of the state’s Hindu community.

The move comes at a time when the BJP and its affiliates have whipped up Hindu self-esteem and the cow as emotive issues in the country with the central message one of religious pride and tactical emphasis on uniting the community by overcoming caste barriers.

“Checking beef sale and slaughter will only be a part of the facilities provided through the helpline. It will have greater relevance of giving fast medical aid, business assistance, security and legal support to all Hindu brothers here,” said Suman Swaroop, the VHP’s Ranchi president. “Through the helpline, one can lodge a complaint with us if they find illegal cow slaughter and sale in any part of the state. We will refer it to our Gao Raksha Samiti, which will pass the information to the police for legal action.”

Cow slaughter and beef have emerged as hot button issues in the past few months with 55-yearold Mohammad Ikhlaq being killed by an angry mob in Uttar Pradesh over rumours that he butchered a calf.

Another Muslim man was lynched in Himachal Pradesh amid suspicions that he was smuggling cows.

Several states with BJP governments have in recent months enforced and enhanced long-dormant laws imposing prohibitions on cattle slaughter and beef trade as right-wing organisations push for a nationwide ban, which is being opposed by minority groups and activists. On Friday, members of a nondescript organisation as well as Left leaders took to the streets in neighbouring West Bengal and consumed beef as a mark of protest against growing communal violence in the country. However, the helpline in Jharkhand will not promote any kind of hostility, say the groups associated with the project.

“We will have to go out on the ground and stop the illegal slaughter since the police are not serious about the issue,” said Shiv Sena’s Jharkhand general secretary, Sandeep Mukherjee.

About 100 activists, including Shiv Sainiks, would be trained to attend to the phone calls on the number and address the problems, he said.