PM Modi showing 'fake anger' for Dalit votes: CPI (M)

Brinda Karat said Modi has taken no action against anti-social elements and anger without action is similar to extending patronage

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Sunday downplayed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remark on cow vigilante groups and said it is his tactic of keeping the Dalit vote bank safe.

CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat said if the Prime Minister's concern against Dalit violence is real then why no action has been taken against the anti-social elements, adding anger without action is similar to extending patronage.

"The Prime Minister's silence was heard in every single Dalit home across India and he has seen reaction on the streets of Gujarat and therefore one month after the horrendous Una incident he has spoken about it. I say that is fake anger because he wants Dalits votes," said Karat.

"When he admits that these are all anti-social elements why has action not being taken against those anti-social criminals. Why is there is no ban on their activities? So, action has to be taken. What is the use of anger when that anger without action seems to actually extending patronage?" she added.

Karat further said that no step is being taken against the cow vigilantes because they are men deployed by the politicians having affiliation to the BJP and RSS, adding they are using these 'gaurakshaks' for communal and casteist polarization.

Breaking his silence on cow vigilantes in the country, Prime Minister Modi yesterday strongly condemned their actions, saying most of them were anti-social elements masquerading as gau rakshaks (cow protectors).

"It makes me angry that people are running shops in the name of cow protection. Some people indulge in anti-social activities at night and in the day masquerade as cow protectors," he said while speaking at his first townhall-style address to mark the second anniversary of his government's MyGov initiative.

The Prime Minister's comments come at a time when questions are being raised on his silence amid the spate of attacks, particularly in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, on Dalits, allegedly in the name of cow protection.