SC urges Centre, states again to act against cow vigilantism
The SC has urged the Centre and states to take urgent steps to check violence in the name of cow protection. States have been asked to appoint a senior cop in each district to supervise incidents of cow vigilantism. However, it has asked petitioners not to politicize the issue: it reminded them that a large number of animals are slaughtered during Eid.
The SC had taken cognizance of the matter earlier too. In July, it asked the Centre and states to take action against violent 'vigilant' acts by the public in the name of 'gau raksha'. Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, while submitting that law and order is a state subject, had assured the court that the government doesn't support "any kind of vigilantism by private persons".
PM Narendra Modi has spoken out against such incidents at least twice: in June, he called killing under the garb of 'gau bhakti' untenable and unacceptable. The next month, he held an all-party meet and instructed MPs to act against those committing 'gau raksha' violence.
However, such incidents didn't stop. Days after his speech, six men transporting buffaloes were allegedly assaulted in Delhi. According to IndiaSpend, since 2010, there have been 63 'gau raksha' attacks. 29 Indians, of which 24 were Muslims, have been killed and 124 injured. Advocate Indira Jaising said the Centre cannot wash its hands off the issue by calling it a "law and order problem".
