PM's 'gau rakshak' remarks aimed at saving sinking Dalit votes in Gujarat: Shiv Sena

Stating that Gujarat is a very important state for the BJP, Shiv Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande said on Monday Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks on atrocities against Dalits by the so-called cow vigilantes was an attempt to save the sinking Dalit votes in the state.

"This is the second time when such incidents have happened. First, it took place in Dadri, where a man was lynched for allegedly story cow meat. Now this is happening in Gujarat. So, somewhere the Dalit votes seem to be getting affected, and hence, Prime Minister Modi had to make a statement, because Gujarat is a very important state for the BJP. They should not lose it at any cost," Kayande told ANI.

Kayande added that the statement was also made after pressure from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Patidar community leader Hardik Patel.

Prime Minister Modi addressing a public rally in Hyderabad on Sunday expressed concern over the recent attacks on people from Dalit community and urged the opponents to stop politicising in the name of Dalit.

He also asked the assaulters to attack him instead of Dalits.

Breaking the silence on the issue, while addressing the Town Hall meeting organised at Indira Gandhi Stadium Complex in New Delhi to mark the second anniversary of MyGov(dot) on Saturday, he took strong exception to atrocities on Dalits in Gujarat's Una in the name of cow protection.

His remarks come at a time when questions are being raised on his silence amid the spate of recent attacks on Dalits in Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.