Srinagar, Aug 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condemned cow vigilantism, and clarified that such incidents will not be tolerated.
In an interview to ‘The Times of India’, PM Modi said that it is extremely disheartening to hear about such incidents taking place on a regular basis.
“Even if one incident occurs in the country, it is very sad and needs to be condemned in the strongest voice. My government is committed to upholding the rule of law and protecting the life and liberty of every citizen. Let there be no shade of doubt on this account,” Modi said.
Numerous killings by Gau Rakshaks have been registered across the country. According to IndiaSpend, cow-related mass violence has amplified manifold — 97 percent of the attacks since 2010 took place after BJP’s ascent to power in 2014. The self-proclaimed cow vigilantes are committing these crimes on the pretext of safeguarding Hindu values.
Modi said that the government has issued very clear advisories to states on this issue.
“I want to make it clear that mob lynching is a crime, no matter what the motive. Mo person can, under any circumstances, take the law into his or her own hands and commit violence”, he added.
He added that the state governments need to adopt effective measures to prevent mob violence, protect innocent citizens irrespective of caste, creed, place, time and religion and take quick action as per the law.
“I also expect that everyone – society, people at large, government and government functionaries and political parties – have a duty to fight this menace”, he asserted.
The government has set up a high-level committee chaired by the Union Home Secretary to deliberate in the matter and make recommendations.
In an interview with ANI, Modi also countering the picture projected by Opposition of a gloomy economic situation and claims of rising unemployment, and also touched upon various other important issues including the National Register of Citizens (NRC), Goods and Services Tax (GST), women empowerment and India-Pakistan relations. He also talked about Mahagathbandhan.
On India-Pakistan relations, Prime Minister hoped that under the new government, Pakistan would work for a safe, secure, stable and prosperous region, free from terror and violence.
“I have always said that we wish to have good neighbourly relations. We have also taken various initiatives in this regard. I recently congratulated Mr. Imran Khan on his victory in the elections. We hope that Pakistan would work for a safe, secure, stable and prosperous region, free from terror and violence,” PM Modi said.
Mehbooba hopes concrete steps will follow PM’s condemnation of mob lynching
Srinagar, Aug 12: Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today expressed hope that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement condemning mob lynching incidents in the country would be followed by concrete steps and punitive measures against the culprits.
“Mob lynching has become a dominant discourse and its near-normalisation has marked a new low for the democracy in India. I hope the PM’s statement condemning it is followed by concrete steps and punitive measures against the culprits,” Mehbooba wrote on Twitter.
In response to a question on the issue of cow vigilantism and incidents of mob lynching, Prime Minister Modi, in an interview to newspaper, said “it is very sad that we keep hearing about such incidents.”
“Even if one incident occurs in the country, it is very said and needs to be condemned in the strongest voice. My government is committed to upholding the rule of law and life and liberty of every citizen. Let there be no shade of doubt on this account,” the Prime Minister said.
Referring to various advisories by the Centre to states on the issue, Modi said, “I want to make it clear that mob lynching is a crime, no matter the motive. No person can, under any circumstances, take the law into his or her hands and commit violence.”
“State governments need to adopt effective measures to prevent mob violence and lynching, protect innocent citizens irrespective of caste, creed, place, time and religion, and take stringent action against the perpetrators of such violence,” he said.
