Shiv Sena urges Centre to act against cow vigilantes

Sena leader Sanjay Raut said if people assaulting Dalits are frauds, then the Centre should probe this issue

The Shiv Sena on Tuesday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government to act against cow vigilantes.

"The Prime Minister gave the statement very rationally. If these people are anti-social then the government must take responsibility to stop the violence. Prime Minster should take some action on it, whether anyone gets angry or not," said Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut.

If people assaulting Dalits are frauds, then the Centre should probe this issue and announce the name of culprits openly, he added.

On Saturday, Prime Minister Modi said most cow vigilantes were anti-social elements masquerading as gau rakshaka or 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.