2017, prime year for cow-related hate crimes

Modi and BJP’s love for cows is known to all. Their obsession with cows can be seen with them going to the extent of proposing to make UID for the holy animal.

In the past eight years, starting from 2010, cow-related hate crimes have been the maximum this year. According to IndiaSpend database, out of a total of 78 cow-related hate crimes since 2010, 35 have been reported to have taken place this year.

The first incident of 2017 was reported on April 1, when Pehlu Khan, resident of Haryana, was beaten by cow vigilantes in Rajasthan’s Alwar district. Two days later, Khan succumbed to his injuries.

The unfortunate part being, despite of Khan mentioning names of six persons in his statement, those men were acquitted on September 1.

On September 6, 2017, the Supreme Court ordered the appointment of a “nodal officer” to address such hate crime in each district. Prior to this in April, days after Pehlu Khan’s death the apex court sought responses from the Centre and six states— including BJP-ruled Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Jharkhand and Congress-run Karnataka — and called for action against cow-protection groups.

What draws attention is the majority of Muslims being attacked or killed in bovine-related hate crimes across India.

Muslims were the target of 53% (42 of 75) incidents of violence centred on bovine issues in 2010-17 and comprised 87% (26 of 30) killed in 78 incidents, data show.

The database also shows that 97% (76 of 78) of such incidents were reported after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government came to power in May 2014.

More than half or 52% of the bovine-related violence–39 of 75 incidents–were reported in states governed by the BJP at the time, revealed IndiaSpend’s analysis of violence recorded until August 31, 2017.

We think, we don’t need to opinionate this article, as the facts and study reveal everything on its own.