Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a call to “stop attacking Dalits”, saying “shoot me if you want, not Dalits”, and asked people to beware of “fake gau rakshaks” who “have a problem with the country’s unity” and “only want to destroy society”.

Prime Minister had criticised “gau rakshaks” during his town hall meeting. It was for the first time, he was referring to the Dalit issue, which had ignited a nationwide debate following the flogging on July 11 of members of the community for skinning dead cattle in Gujarat’s Una.

RSS general secretary Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi condemned the “acts of a handful of such opportunistic persons”. BJP leader Sidharth Nath Singh referred it as “what anti-social elements are doing in the name of gau rakshaks”.

Addressing party workers in Hyderabad, Modi said, “I would like to tell these people that if you have any problem, if you have to attack, attack me. Stop attacking my Dalit brethren. If you have to shoot, shoot me, but not my Dalit brothers. This game should stop.”

The Prime Minister said that such incidents has caused him “unbearable pain”. “There are a few incidents that are very shameful. It is our duty to protect and respect the poor and Dalit people of our country,” he said.

“There are a few bad elements, shortcomings in our society. What right do we have to illtreat our Dalit brothers and sisters? We are the people who talk about ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family)’ and if we cannot embrace our Dalit brothers and sisters, the world will not forgive us. We will have to strive hard to protect our nation from such anti-social elements, we will have to expose such people,” said Modi.

“Those who want to destroy society, those who have trouble with the unity of the country, a handful of such people in the name of gau rakshaks are trying to create tension in society. I want to tell all my countrymen to beware of such fake gau rakshaks,” he said, adding, “these fake gau rakshaks have nothing to do with the cow, they just want to create tension in society. So I ask all state governments to investigate such gau rakshaks and take stern action.”

Modi said: “At the same time, I want to bow to the real devotees, worshippers and servers of cow, you also remain alert, lest a handful of people for their personal benefit destroy the great work that you have done. You must come forward to expose such people so that they are not successful in their designs.”

By Premji