Don't politicise issue, Gujarat CM says after visiting Una

Amid the raging protests over the thrashing of Dalit youths for allegedly skinning a cow, Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel today met the victims' family at Mota Samadhiyala village in Una tehsil of Gir-Somnath district, and promised them all possible help.
Patel told the family that her government was taking strict action against the culprits and 16 of them were already arrested, an official release said.
As some of the victims complained of getting threats, Patel assured that police will also arrest those people.
On July 11, some persons who claimed to be 'Gau-Rakshak' ('cow protectors') arrived at Mota Samadhiyala and beat up seven Dalit youths who were allegedly skinning a dead cow. The attackers alleged that the Dalits had slaughtered the cow.

During her visit, Patel said the government will give grant for construction and repairing of houses and toilets for the Dalits and other poor families in the village.
A special camp will be held on July 24 to provide them various benefits of government schemes such as widow pension, Maa Vatsalya Yojana, BPL card registration, medicine distribution, etc.

The chief minister ordered the district administration to complete these tasks in a month and announced that she will again visit after two months to see if the victims and other villagers had got benefits of these schemes.
Speaking to reporters, Patel later said the issue should not be politicised. "Such incidents should never be associated with politics. I request all the political parties to refrain from doing politics...Those who want to come can come and see what has happened and what steps we have taken," she said, referring to the planned visits of Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi tomorrow and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal later.

The CM later visited Rajkot Civil Hospital and made inquiries about the treatment of four victims and directed hospital authorities to provide best possible medical treatment to them.
Social Justice Minister Ramanbhai Vora and Minister of State Jasabhai Barad accompanied her.