Opposition parties have urged the Centre to convene a meeting of Chief Ministers to discuss the increasing number of mob lynchings across the country.
The vigilante groups, they claimed, are ideologically linked to the Sangh Parivar, and the Centre’s silence on the matter was helping them grow.
The BJP, however, countered the argument, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already asked States to take strict action against those who indulge in violence in the name of protecting cows.
The Opposition and the Centre locked horns on the issue during a short duration discussion in the Rajya Sabha on the ‘Situation arising out of the reported increase in the incidents of lynching and atrocities on minorities and Dalits across the country.’
Initiating the debate, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said such issues are not between Hindus or Muslims. “It is a fight for humanity. It is a fight between the [Sangh] Parivar and the rest,” Azad said. He said the ruling party is the only beneficiary of such killings. “For the unity and integrity of the country, every member of the Opposition is ready to shed his blood. Stop vote bank politics,” Azad said.
Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal urged the Prime Minister to convene a meeting of Chief Ministers if his sentiments against the killing mobs were real. One of Agarwal’s statements on Hindu gods, which was later expunged, created a brief disruption during the debate. Agarwal said attacks against women, Dalits and minorities had risen in UP ever since the BJP came to power. He also ridiculed the State government’s anti-Romeo squads.
CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said such issues are a blot on the country’s Constitutional principles. “You have people who question who eats beef and who doesn’t to identify Hindus and non-Hindus today. Is this what my country is coming to? And these private armies are roaming around freely,” he said.
Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien said the BJP was using the internet to fan communal passions. He said the BJP is creating trouble in West Bengal to disrupt communal harmony. O’Brien added that the entire Opposition will jointly fight such moves.