In Una, RSS-linked body seeks action: ‘Hooliganism in the name of gau raksha’

The resolution read out during the event said, “Atrocities against innocent persons in the name of gau raksha is an anti-social crime. The government should take strict action against such people.”

RSS’s Sanghchalak for the western region Dr Jayantibhai Bhadeshiya said in his address, “Such an incident happened due to some people working to divide the Hindus. The entire community was shaken and youth were forced to consume poison. Samajik samrasta is the only solution.”

Asked if the event was organised with an eye on the 2017 Assembly polls, he said, “If this was the case, we would have organised the event in Gandhinagar or Ahmedabad or Delhi. The sants have come here with ganga jal to remove the blot caused by the incident on Una’s land.”

Atmanand Saraswati from Botad said, “After the Una incident, several political parties visited this place. Those trying to use this issue for their political interests are enemies of mother India. BJP, Congress or AAP, no one is concerned about the suicides, they have no pain and empathy.”

He added: “Dalits are our brothers, mothers and sisters, Dalits are also made by the same God.”

A number of religious leaders asked the Dalits to stay away from liquor. “The first lesson for Dalit community is to stay away from addiction. It will end your community, you will become a minority. If some political party hands you money or liquor during elections, do not accept that.”

Yogiji Maharaj from Kutch said, “During elections, political parties come with bottles of liquor and seek votes. Priests would tell you not to get into that trap. We have not come here to promote any party.”

Referring to the Bulandshahr rape incident, he said: “Four days ago, a mother and her daughter were raped in Noida, only 40 km away from Delhi. No one went there to show sympathy. But they reached here, about 1500 km from Delhi. The truth is that they all came for votes.”

Parmatamananda Saraswati from Rajkot requested Dalits to not resort to conversions or suicides. “We priests are very pained by such acts. These are not solutions.”