Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Sunday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remarks on cow vigilantes at a public event and wondered what prevented him from making similar statements in Parliament.
The “delayed” and “politically inspired” statement was a “failed attempt” at diverting the people’s attention from the “terror” of cow vigilantes in the BJP-ruled States, she said.
Ms. Mayawati said that behind Mr. Modi’s words was not his concern over violence unleashed by vigilantes, but his worry over the “political damage” to the BJP by the Dalit upsurge, especially because of the Uttar Pradesh elections.
She asked Mr. Modi to explain why the “80 per cent of illegal activities” in the name of cow protection were taking place mostly in the BJP-ruled States and why the State governments were giving patronage to these groups. Since violence in the name of cow protection was taking place across the States, it has become a national problem. Mr. Modi’s call to the States to prepare a dossier on “cow protectors” was eyewash. Either he or the Union Home Ministry should have issued instructions to the States to take legal action against the vigilantes, she said.
“In spite of the uproar in Parliament, Mr. Modi does not deliver any responsible statement but he speaks outside Parliament at functions where he cannot be questioned. Parliament is in session, and he should give a statement in the House,” she said.
