’Attack Me, Shoot me, Not Dalits’: PM Modi’s message in Hyderabad

Mangalore Today News Network

Hyderabad Aug 07, 2016 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a strong message today, calling for the protection of Dalits and punishment for fake cow vigilantes, issues over which his party, the BJP, has been facing opposition fire. 

 

During his maiden visit to Telangana, he asked people to stop politics over Dalits, asking people to protect Dalits and other exploited sections. "If you have a problem, if you feel like attacking someone, attack me, not my Dalit brothers. If you want to shoot anyone, shoot me, not my Dalit brothers," he declared in Hyderabad.

Earlier, at Medak, he made some scathing comments about "fake cow protectors" saying they were "dividing the nation and should be isolated and punished".

"Be wary of ’nakli’ (fake) gau rakshaks, they have nothing to do with cow. Governments should crack down on them," PM Modi said at a function to lay water pipes in Medak’s Gajwel.

This was the second time in two days the Prime Minister has called cow vigilantes to order. Yesterday, he delivered a blistering condemnation of cow protectors, saying they make him "so angry".

Cow vigilantes have been blamed for some of the most outrageous incidents over the recent months, including the stripping and flogging of four Dalit men in Gujarat’s Una. The incidents have provoked opposition allegations that the ruling BJP is encouraging, or ignoring, the atrocities on the underprivileged.

The Prime Minister’s visit to the nation’s youngest state - made on the heels of his Friday’s meeting with Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu -- was marked by a red carpet welcome from Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao.

Mr Rao - who had earlier made it clear that he was not averse to ties with the BJP -- accompanied him to his home constituency Gajwel.

PM Modi spent a little over four hours in Telangana, during which he launched Mission Bhageeratha - the prestigious drinking water project. A power project, a fertiliser plant and a health university were inaugurated by remote control.

While Telangana wants central assistance for several of its projects and KCR is also eyeing a political friendship with Modi, Chandrababu Naidu is banking on the Prime Minister to deliver on his promise of special category status to Andhra Pradesh.

On Friday, shortly after Mr Naidu’s lawmakers of his party, the TDP, submitted a memorandum telling Modi that if special category status is not granted to Andhra Pradesh, there could be a backlash from the people politically for the alliance.