Lalu blames Modi, RSS for violence in name of cow protection

Patna: RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Saturday blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his BJP and the RSS for the hatred and violence across the country in the name of cow protection. In an open letter to Modi and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, he said that Modi, BJP leaders and RSS are responsible for spreading the poison of hatred and violence in the country in the garb of cow protection. He said he was warning Bhagwat and those who do "politics of hate that they should mend their ways or pack their bags" as the Dalits and backward community members will no more follow the code of conduct imposed by the RSS. He blamed Modi, BJP and the "intolerant ideology" of RSS for the deaths of those carrying for cows, farmers, Dalits, tribals and minorities because of spreading hatred in the country. "Nobody in your party cares for cow but BJP workers and supporters will waste no time in killing an Akhlaq over the issue of beef," he said in the letter, referring to the Muslim man lynched in Uttar Pradesh. "What had happened in Una in Gujarat where four Dalit youths were thrashed and humiliated by a group in name of cow protection is result of the hate speeches made by Modi and other BJP leaders during the last Lok Sabha polls and later during Bihar Assembly elections last year relating to pink revolution, beef and cow protection that farmers now fear purchasing cows," said Lalu Prasad. He said if Modi really cares for cows, he should make a rule and direct every minister in his government to keep a cow in their house, take care of it personally, bathe it, feed it and if it dies, conduct the last rites also. "This is because if Dalits are taking a dead cow out of their house to conduct last rites, there is a threat of them being beaten up by your party workers," he said.