Gau rakshaks are your people: Sibal mocks BJP

Sibal said the BJP can not distance itself from violence in the name of the cow as VHP and Bajrang Dal are associated with it.

Holding Prime Minister Narendra Modi responsible for an atmosphere of fear created by cow vigilantes, Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Thursday asked why the Prime Minister does not criticise the VHP and Bajrang Dal publically.

During a debate in the Rajya Sabha on mob lynching and cow vigilantism, Sibal came down hard at the Centre and said killing in the name of the cow is the death of humanity.

Continuing his tirade, he said, "It has nothing to do with cow vigilantes. It is the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is creating that kind of an environment."

Sibal said the BJP can not distance itself from violence in the name of the cow as VHP and Bajrang Dal are associated with it.

"You say it isn't related to BJP. These people are cow vigilantes. But these are your people. VHP has said it will equip gau rakshaks," Sibal added.

CPI leader D Raja said that it was shameful that issues like mob lynching are being discussed even 70-years after independence.

"Dalits, minorities and women doesn't want sympathy or empathy. They want empowerment guaranteed by the Constitution," he said.

After this, Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar raked up the issue of 1984 Sikh riots in Delhi to counter the opposition.

"In 1984, homes were burnt in Delhi and 3,000 Sikhs were lynched. We will not tolerate lynching, don't play politics on this issue," said Javadekar.

Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad condemned HRD Minister's speech and said, "We made this nation not you, you all were with British, we sacrificed."

Congress then walked out of the House.

OneIndia News