Cow vigilantes ‘not our people’

New Delhi, May 25

The BJP and the Sangh family support a ban on cow slaughter, but “condemn” vigilantism in the name of cow protection, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said today, declaring they are “not our people”.

Gadkari’s comments in an interview are the strongest repudiation of cow vigilante groups by the Modi government, which has come under fierce attack by its rivals over violence perpetrated by the so-called “gau rakshaks”.

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These cow protection groups have mercilessly beaten up people, some even to death. These incidents inflamed communal tension, tarnishing PM Narendra Modi’s efforts to focus on economic development, which Gadkari said was the main agenda.  

He deprecated the tendency of associating every saffron-clad person with the BJP. “BJP, VHP, Sangh (parivar) and our government do not support such elements.” — PTI