RSS backs PM Modi's comments; condemns attacks on Dalits,

New Delhi: Condemning the attacks on Dalits, RSS on Monday termed as “inhuman” the violence and asked state governments to take action against elements trying to “disturb communal harmony and trust”. VHP, an RSS affiliate, however, vowed to continue its work related to protection of cow, saying they have been doing it for a long time and will continue the work. “We appeal to all the sections of the society to remain aware of elements who want to disturb the environment of communal harmony and trust. We expect the administration to take speedy action against such individuals and groups who break the law,” RSS general secretary Bhaiyaji Joshi, second in chain of command after its Sar Sanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat, said in a statement. Significantly, RSS had also issued a statement on Sunday denouncing the attacks on Dalits. He said taking law in one’s own hands to harass Dalits was not only illegal but also inhuman. [caption id=“attachment_2672382” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. AFP[/caption] While declining to comment on the attacks on Dalits and Muslims by cow vigilantes, VHP joint general secretary Surendra Jain said there was a lot of controversy over it. “We will not like to comment on the issue. However, cow protection has been going on since long. We will continue to work for it,” Jain said. The comments by RSS and VHP came in the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly rebuking perpetrators of violence on Dalits in the name of cow protection, telling them, “if you have to shoot, shoot me” but stop attacking “my Dalit brothers”. Facing increasingly bruising opposition assault on his government and BJP over attacks on Dalits and on the issue of cow vigilantes, Modi had on Sunday lashed out at “fake cow protectors”, denouncing them for the second day running for trying to create “tension and conflict” in the society and asking the states to take stringent action against them. Joshi said that several political parties and leaders of various castes are trying to create a situation of uncertainty through half baked information which is not conducive to harmony. RSS also would like to appeal to political parties and various heads that there is a need to normalise the situation of uncertainty through public cooperation, Joshi said. “By sympathising with the victims, there is a need to think that such incidents do not take place,” Joshi said in the statement. However, Modi faced flak from some Hindutva groups with the chief of a right wing organisation sending him a legal notice and alleging that his comments will encourage cow smugglers. “Modi said over 70-80 percent of those working to protect cows are anti-social elements. I have asked him to clarify what evidence he has to back his statement. His comments are a big setback to cow protectors as they will be now seen as a villain by the society,” Akhil Bhartiya Hindu Mahasabha president Swamy Chakrapani said. “Cow smugglers will receive a boost and attack cow protectors more aggressively now,” he added. Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha president Chandra Prakash Kaushik demanded that the prime minister withdraw his comments as they have hurt the Hindu community. Modi had yesterday lashed out at “fake cow protectors”, denouncing them for the second day running for trying to create “tension and conflict” in the society and asking the states to take stringent action against them. In Meerut, Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha activists accused the BJP of “betraying” the trust of the Hindus and conducted a special ‘havan’ for Modi’s “good sense”. National vice-president of the outfit Ashoke Sharma was critical of Modi for describing cow vigilante groups as “anti-socials” and “militants”. He added that the ‘havan’ was conducted at the Hindu Mahasabha office at Sharda Road so that the prime minister started thinking about the “Hindu cause” again. He alleged that due to these “dubious” activities of the BJP, India could not become a “Hindu nation”. Talking to reporters in Nagpur, RSS ideologue and former spokesperson MG Vaidya said the government should take a strict action against those who attack Dalits in the name of cow protection. “When there is a law against cow slaughter and provision of punishment for such acts, the so-called cow protectors should inform the police instead of taking law into their own hands,” he said. The RSS veteran said “such elements” are defaming Hindu religion. He dismissed any association of the self-proclaimed cow vigilantes who target Dalits with Sangh Parivar. “The government should find out the credentials of such elements so that truth comes out before people,” he added.