Antonio Diniz
After BJP came to power at the centre and also in some other states the protection of cows took the center stage and laws were either framed, amended or existing laws were being aggressively implemented by banning cow slaughter, possession, transportation and eating of beef. Under normal circumstances the laws were supposed to be enforced by the police and other official agencies.
However something strange started happening, the tasks entrusted to police was unexpectedly usurped by the self appointed “cow vigilantes” who began to put into practice their own distorted version of cow protection laws. Indeed they chose the easier task of becoming very active, vocal and violent, that even unfounded rumours about the possession, cooking or eating of beef was sufficient for them to unleash their own form of justice and punishment by talking the law into their hands. So much so that in many cases the police and state authorities ignored their violent lawless acts and atrocities meted to innocent and defenseless victims.
It appears that this self-appointed guardians of justice began neglecting completely their roles of protection of cows and resorted to punish people as per their whims and fancies. In the meantime they are ignoring absolutely their harder task, that is of preventing large numbers of cattle roaming aimlessly in the streets unattended endangering their lives and that of human beings. No one is concerned about their shelter, food and medical problems. On any given day and any place one will find old and starving kettle eating plastic, garbage and coolly squatting on the roads especially at nights, causing immense problems to road traffic. You will never find any cow lovers or anyone from the vigilante groups showing any active interest towards this endangered stray cattle. A question that comes to my mind is: why other utility animals like buffaloes, goats, sheep and camels are not found wondering on streets inspite of not having any special groups to look after their safety and welfare?
All this gives an impression that the so-called cow protectors have altogether a different agenda, that of harassing and intimidating certain sections of society in the name of love for the cow, while the poor old and discarded cow itself does not get any fair treatment nor charity. It’s time that concerned governments take serious action against such lawless antisocial elements or cow vigilantes before the situation goes out of control.
