Uproar in Rajya Sabha over beating up of two women in MP over beef rumours

New Delhi, Mandsaur(MP) July 27

The Opposition BSP and Congress on Wednesday created uproar in the Rajya Sabha, protesting against the beating up of two Muslim women in Madhya Pradesh in the name of cow protection.

No sooner had listed papers been laid on the table of the House, Mayawati (BSP) said after beating of Dalit youths in Gujarat, ‘Gau Raksha’ (cow protection) groups beat up two women in Madhya Pradesh over suspicion of possessing beef.

The incident at the Mandsaur railway station occurred in presence of the police which remained a mute spectator, she alleged.

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The BJP, on the one hand, talks of protecting the girl child and giving dignity and honour to women but on the other unleashes goons on them, Mayawati charged.

The incident in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh comes close on the heels of beating of four Dalit youths in party’s bastion Gujarat, she said.

Mayawati asked Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi to respond to targeting of women of his community in the name of cow protection.

As she completed her submission, BSP members trooped into the Well of the House, shouting anti-government slogans.

Congress members too joined them in the Well.

“Mahila virodhi yeh sarkar nahi chalegi, nahi chalegi (This anti-women government will not be tolerated)”, they shouted. “Dalit virodhi yeh sarkar nahi chalegi, nahi chalegi (this anti-dalit government will not be tolerated).”     

Anand Sharma (Congress) asked why Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not responded to attacks on dalits in name of ‘Gau Raksha’.

“He has done ‘Chai-pe-Charcha’ (talk over tea) and ‘Mann-ki-Baat’ (straight talk from heart) but why not on this issue,” he asked.

Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien said derailing Zero Hour, where 13 members have given notices, was not right and if members wanted a discussion on the subject, they should give notice.

“You go back to your seats, I will ask the government to respond,” he said urging Mayawati and Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad to call back their members.

Azad said the Congress was not principally against cow protection but was against targeting of Dalits and Muslims in the name of ‘gau raksha’.

“Let it be very clear. We are not against gau raksha. But in the garb of it, targeting Dalits and Muslims is something we are against,” he said.

It was buffalo meat: Police

Mandsaur Superintendent of Police Manoj Sharma said they had received a call from a person yesterday stating that two women were being manhandled by people on suspicion of carrying beef at the railway station.

Two police constables, including a woman, then rushed to the platform and took the two women away, he said.

After that, the meat was sent for examination which revealed that it was of buffalo, he said, adding that one of the two women had earlier also been booked for carrying meat in an illegal manner.

Following their arrest, the two women were produced before a local court which sent them in judicial remand under relevant sections of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act-1960.

“It is a law and order situation and people should exercise restraint. Under no circumstances they should take the law in their hands. We are gradually making efforts to check such incidents,” the SP said

Asked about the attack on the two women, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Bhupendra Singh denied that the two women were assaulted by other women passengers in police custody and said the policemen who were on the site had saved them during a scuffle.

He claimed that the two women had an argument with fellow passengers and there was a scuffle involving both sides.

“If they (the two women) give us any representation that something objectionable has happened, we will conduct an inquiry and ensure that the culprits are punished,” the minister said.

Kotwali police station in-charge MP Singh Parihar said they had received a “tip-off” that the two women were on their way to Mandsaur from Jaora with beef following which they were caught outside the railway station with nearly 30 kg meat yesterday.

“On examination it was found that the two women were not carrying beef and it was found to be buffalo meat,” he said.

“No report was filed by them that they were beaten by radical elements at the station,” the police officer said. — PTI