An Indian Catholic leader has slammed an inflammatory call by a radical Hindu group for the execution of people who slaughter cattle or transport beef.
Bishop Vincent Barwa, who chairs the bishops’ office for ethnic minorities and lower caste people, said the demand by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council-VHP) sought to create violence and religious divisions.
The senior prelate was responding to ucanews.com following media reports that the VHP had resolved to press for a national law against cow slaughter stipulating death sentences for violators.
Laws restricting the slaughter of cows, bulls and bullocks exist in 20 of India’s 29 states. Since the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party came to power nationally in 2014, India has witnessed more than 20 mob lynchings connected with what is generally referred to as “cow slau-ghter.” The media have widely reported orchestrated attacks on Muslims and Dalits, formerly known as untouchables, by so-called cow vigilantes. A report, compiled by India Spend, India’s first data journalism outfit, found that Muslims were targeted in 51% of violence connected with bovine issues between 2010 to 2017.
