PM Modi raised issue of cow protection after sensing his own loss: Akhilesh Yadav

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on 8 August said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assertion on "fake gau rakshaks" came too late and alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was making the mistake of connecting cow protection with the nation's progress.

Yadav said the PM spoke on the issue of cows when he sensed his own loss.

"Everyone knows the BJP with regard to cow protection. They want to divert the nation's attention from development. They raised the question... Although it was late. When he (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) saw his own loss, he raised the question. We had asked not to do politics on this issue," Yadav told the media in Lucknow.

In an unusual expression of solidarity with the Dalit community which faced the wrath of so-called 'cow protectors' in Gujarat recently, Prime Minister Modi on 7 August went hammer and tongs at them, saying if they want to shoot, they should shoot him, but not his Dalit brothers.

"People who think they control Dalits could not digest the fact that Dalit people getting to know about the BJP's good work and that is why they are in tizzy. They are indulging in raising issues using Dalits. I want to tell those people that if they have any problem, they should attack me, but stop attacking my Dalit brothers. If you want to shoot, shoot me, but don't shoot my Dalit brothers," he added.

Urging the state governments to initiate strong against such fake 'gau rakshaks', Prime Minister Modi requested the true cow devotes to be aware so that some elements do not misuse their name.

"Politics of breaking the society is not good for the country and discrimination among human beings is not acceptable to us. Shanti, Ekta, Sadbhavana are central to the progress of the nation. We have to protect the marginalized and the Dalits. It is our duty," he said in Hyderabad.