Narendra Modi has finally denounced cow vigilantes. The prime minister stated that he felt enraged by such ‘anti- social elements’. These statements came against the
backdrop of a spate of crimes against minorities regarding the consumption and the transport of meat. Modi has now asked state governments to prepare ‘dossiers’ on these ‘cow protectors’. Cow vigilantes are certainly breaking the law and indulging in mass oppression, especially against minority groups like Dalits, who have borne the brunt of these attacks by rightwing groups.
The prime minister has been silent in the past over these issues, and although he has now come out in the open and denounced these attacks, it is perhaps too little, too late. For
almost two years now, men and women too have been beaten
up quite badly, and lynched too, in some cases. Is this perhaps
just a precautionary measure since the world is now looking
to India and the violations of human rights that occur in the
name of protecting the cow? If Narendra Modi is indeed serious
about this, then words are not enough. Asking state governments
to keep an eye on these ‘anti-social elements’, in the
PM’s words, won’t do much help. The Centre has to pass strict
laws for any change to be effected.
