Demonstrating outside the Bikaner House in New Delhi, they demanded the Rajasthan BJP government to take strict action against the culprits and compensate Pahlu Khan’s family and other victims
Ghazanfar Abbas, IndiaTomorrow.net
New Delhi, May 3: Denouncing the killing of dairy farmer Pahlu Khan who was lynched by some self-styled cow vigilantes (Gau Rakshaks) in Alwar district of Rajasthan early last month, eminent activists, academicians and students on Wednesday demanded speedy justice in the case.
Demonstrating outside the Bikaner House in New Delhi, they demanded the Rajasthan BJP government to take strict action against the culprits and compensate Pahlu Khan’s family and other victims.
On 1st April, a gang of self-styled Gau Rakshaks attacked Haryana’s dairy farmer Pahlu Khan and four other Muslim dairy farmers in Alwar district of the state when they were returning after purchasing some cows and calves from a government-run cattle fair in Jaipur. They were brutally beaten up by the mob. They had valid papers from the Municipal authorities of Jaipur. But the attackers didn’t heed. Pahlu Khan, 50, succumbed to injuries in hospital. Azmat, another victim who got serious injuries in his backbone, is not able to walk. He is under treatment now.
While speaking to IndiaTomorrow.net, activists and academicians alleged that behind such killings there is patronage to the Gau Rakshaks and obvious failure of governance.
“Atmosphere shows that either governance has ended or state has promoted such groups who beat, kill people and even loot and rob them. Without the patronage of state it is not possible. It’s a joke if such people talk about Muslim women’s rights and protection. After killing Muslims they are saying that they want to protect Muslim women from the oppression by Muslim men,” Prof. Apoorvanand Jha of Delhi University said.
“Ultimately in the name of Hindu Rashtra goons will be ruling and nobody will be living with dignity and safety. This is a matter for Hindus to ponder if they have lost their culture or want to keep it survive,” he averred.
Eminent civil rights activist Kavita Krishnan said: “These so-called Gau Rakshak teams are basically organized criminal groups that have patronage and protection from state and police. That is way they are able to upload their actions on the internet, in which you can see the police also present on the site of crime. Right to human life is above all. We will not tolerate killings in the name of cow. Govt. should control such groups and give justice to Pahlu Khan.”
“Even Kajol had to explain it was not beef, it was buffalo meat. She should not have explained. But Pahlu Khan got no chance to explain that he was a dairy farmer and he was simply killed. People should not be in any illusion – Gau Rakshaks are killing not because they want to protect cows but they want to kill Muslims,” she said.
Submitting a memorandum to Rajasthan BJP government through Resident Commissioner at Bikaner House, they demanded immediate action against all accused whose names are in the FIR, Rs 1 crore compensation to Pahlu Khan’s family and Rs 25 lakh compensation to each victim. Moreover, they demanded both state and central governments to end all violence in the name of cow.
