Shiv Sena slams lynchings by gau rakshaks, praises PM Modi for condemning attacks

Mumbai city news: In an editorial in the party’s mouthpiece, Saamana, the Shiv Sena said the party is thankful to Modi for making it clear that killing of people in the name of ‘gau bhakti’ will not be tolerated

The Shiv Sena on Tuesday slammed the recent lynchings in the name of protecting cows, saying it was not the definition of Hindutva, and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for condemning the attacks.

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray (File)

In an editorial in the party’s mouthpiece, Saamana, the Shiv Sena said the party is thankful to Modi for making it clear that killing of people in the name of ‘gau bhakti’ (devotion towards cows) will not be tolerated and this is not what Hindutva stands for.

The party urged the PM to also clarify the nation’s policy on beef and cow protection laws.

“Modi has come down heavily on cow vigilantes, but should we protect cows in this country? What should be done with the old cattle that farmers are saddled with? Modi has not given his guidance on these issues yet,” the Shiv Sena said in the editorial.

In states such as Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and in the north east, eating beef is common . Even if a BJP government comes to power there, this habit will not change all of a sudden, the party said.

“Why should a cow not be considered a holy mother in the northeast and only in Gujarat and Maharashtra? All these subjects are closely related to the country’s employment and economy and there needs to be a national policy on this,” the Shiv Sena said.

The party also taunted BJP president Amit Shah for recently being on the back foot when he said more incidents of lynching took place between 2011 and 2013 during the Congress regime.

“Shah made these statements in Goa where there is no ban on cattle slaughter. Even if more incidents have taken place during the Congress government, it does not belittle the seriousness of the killings taking place today,” the party said.

The Shiv Sena, the BJP’s warring ally, has been taunting the BJP over its selective implementation of cattle protection laws in the country, in states where the party has a government, and demanding a national policy on the same.

However, this is the first time that the Sena has condemned the lynchings taking place in the name of cow protection.