Lok Sabha debates mob lynching by cow vigilantes

The Lok Sabha on Monday witnessed pandemonium after the Opposition cornered the government over the rise in the incidents of mob lynching across the country.

Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said the incidents of lynching and mob violence had increased ever since the NDA government had come to power. He also accused the government of being against minorities, Dalits and women, and said these sections had borne the maximum brunt of mob violence.

He also accused the government of "indirectly encouraging" right wing groups like the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal as well as Gau Rakshaks (cow vigilantes).

"There's a feeling of threat in many states, especially because of fringe groups. Incidents of lynching and mob violence are not under control. Taking matters into one's hands and exercising violence or killing another is unacceptable," Kharge said.

The Leader of the Opposition added that mob lynching incidents and mob violence were occurring in the states where the BJP was in power.

"Gujarat, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh - wherever BJP is in power, these mob violence and lynchings happen.It is a shame that this is happening in a democracy!," Kharge said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party retaliated by saying that the Opposition should not discuss the issue since the cases they were were referring to were pending in court.

BJP MP Nishkant Dubey said that many of the case mentioned by Kharge were pending in court under Indian Penal Code Section 352.

"The cases of violence Kharge is mentioning are already in the courts, so why is he saying all this? He cannot speak about these cases," Nishkant Dubey said.

The Leader of the Opposition had cited the Ballabhgarh train lynching incident in which a 16-year-old, Junaid Khan, was fatally stabbed for allegedly carrying beef in a bag. He blamed the government for failing to control such incidents.

"He came to Delhi to shop for Eid, but was lynched. No one questioned this and everyone is taking law into their hands. I request the government to list how many Gau Rakshaks they have arrested, and what lawful action they've taken. You have not taken any action, which is why there is such a rise in incidents. No action is being taken, and is instead being encouraged," Kharge said.

BJP Leader Hukmdev Narayan shot back, saying that that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had repeatedly condemned mob lynching and that it was the states' responsibility to keep a check on such incidents.

"When the prime minister himself has condemned the mob incidents repeatedly then it is upto the states to follow the law. The Centre can't send paramilitary on its own," he said.

Mallikarjun Kharge said that despite the prime minister's stance that he was against mob lynching by cow vigilantes, no action had been taken against cow vigilantes.

"He says something and does something else," he said, also askingthe government to give details of the action taken against the accused in these cases, who he said had becomebrazen because of lack of action.

Kharge also spoke about the death of the BJP worker in Kerala, criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not speaking about mob lynching in his "Mann Ki Baat" radio programme on Sunday.

"An RSS worker is murdered in Kerala and the Governor calls the chief minister. There are mob lynchings happening here and nothing is being done!" he added.

The BJP MP also questioned the opposition for not raisingthe issue the lynching and murder of SrinagarDSP Ayub Pandith by a mob.

"Is the mob lynching of DSP Ayub Pandith in J&K not an incident worth mentioning?" he asked.

Citing "unity in diversity", the BJP MP saidall religions should co-exist together and refrain from linking lynching incidents to religion.

In response to the Opposition's referenceto the Ballabhgarh train lynching incident, Narayan said the fight began because of a train seat.

" The Junaid incident was a fight over a train seat, why are you linking it with religion? What about Kerala?" he asked.

Indian Army veterans havereportedly writtena letter to PM Modi condemning the attack on Muslims and Dalits.

Gujarat MLAs being threatened: Congress alleges in Rajya Sabha

The Congress, in Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, raised the issue of the alleged kidnapping and threatening of its MLAs (Members of Legislative Assembly) by the Gujarat police in the Upper House and said this was being done to influence their votes in the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls.

Congress members trooped into the Well of the House raising anti-government slogans, and were met with counter-sloganeering by the BJP benches.

Deputy Chairman PJ Kurien had to briefly adjourn proceedings due to the ruckus in the House.

Congress lawmaker Madhusudhan Mistry alleged that his party MLAs were being "kidnapped" and offered "Rs 10-15 crore" to influence their vote in the August 8 elections so that the BJP could send three members from the state to the Rajya Sabha.