RSS slams attacks on Dalits for 2nd time in two days

NEW DELHI: Condemning the attacks on Dalits, RSS today termed as "inhuman" the violence and asked state governments to take action against elements trying to "disturb communal harmony and trust".

VHP, an RSS affiliate, however, vowed to continue its work related to protection of cow, saying they have been doing it for a long time and will continue the work.

"We appeal to all the sections of the society to remain aware of elements who want to disturb the environment of communal harmony and trust. We expect the administration to take speedy action against such individuals and groups who break the law," RSS general secretary Bhaiyaji Joshi, second in chain of command after its Sar Sanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat, said in a statement.

Significantly, RSS had also issued a statement yesterday denouncing the attacks on Dalits.

He said taking law in one's own hands to harass Dalits was not only illegal but also inhuman.

While declining to comment on the attacks on Dalits and Muslims by cow vigilantes, VHP joint general secretary Surendra Jain said there was a lot of controversy over it.

"We will not like to comment on the issue. However, cow protection has been going on since long. We will continue to work for it," Jain said.

The comments by RSS and VHP came in the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly rebuking perpetrators of violence on Dalits in the name of cow protection, telling them, "if you have to shoot, shoot me" but stop attacking "my Dalit brethers".

Facing increasingly bruising opposition assault on his government and BJP over attacks on Dalits and on the issue of cow vigilantes, Modi had yesterday lashed out at "fake cow protectors", denouncing them for the second day running for trying to create "tension and conflict" in the society and asking the states to take stringent action against them.

Joshi said that several political parties and leaders of various castes are trying to create a situation of uncertainty through half baked information which is not conducive to harmony.

RSS also would like to appeal to political parties and various heads that there is a need to normalise the situation of uncertainty through public cooperation, Joshi said.

"By sympathising with the victims, there is a need to think that such incidents do not take place," Joshi said in the statement.