Cong targets PM, says NDA Govt directly, indirectly promoting those behind lynching incidents

New Delhi, Jul 31 :  The Opposition Congress today targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing his government of directly or indirectly encouraging cow vigilantes and organisations like the VHP and the Bajrang Dal which he said were inciting violence against minorities and Dalits, leading to increasing incidents of lynching in the name of cow protection. 'These incidents are denting the country's image in the world. This is happening in Modi's new India. It should be brought out as to who was behind it. It is the NDA government which was directly or indirectly encouraging those involved in criminal and communal incidents,' Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said initiating the much awaited debate on lynching incidents under Rule 193 in the House. The House witnessed stormy scenes as the Treasury benches frequently interrupted Mr Kharge raising Points of Order several times but the Speaker let him continue. Mr Kharge said these things were being caused to happen to support the kind of philosophy the Prime Minister was trying to establish. Mr Kharge said the Prime Minister was talking about everything under the sun on his 'Mann Ki Baat' but had chosen not to speak against lynching. 'And when the Prime Minister finally gives a statement against lynching, it has no effect as the incidents continue to happen,' he said. 'In fact there was a great gap between the words and deeds of the Prime Minister,' Mr Kharge added. He said any kind of "mob lynching" is bad and unacceptable."The attack either on Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Sikhs are unwarranted....," he said, adding that in most cases minorities, Dalits and weaker sections were under attack. He said these incidents were not a few isolated and stray incidents and wanted to know if Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government were serious about these - how many of those responsible for such attacks had been booked. "In many cases, MPs and MLAs have been directly encouraging such elements in the name of Gau-rakhsa (Cow-vigilante)....the philosophy you want to promote is responsible for such incidents," the Congress leader alleged. BJP lawmaker Nishikant Dubey said the Congress member could not raise the cases which are already in the court. But Mr Kharge insisted he was within rights as he was only naming the incidents. "You are not taking actions," Mr Kharge charged the ruling side. There was a great protest from the Government, expressed by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar when Mr Kharage quoted from former president Pranab Mukherjee's statement expressing worry over the incidents of lynching as he argued that Mr Kharge according to Rule 352 could not quote from the President to influence his debate, on which the Congress Member said he was only referring to the former president and quoting his statement which was on record. UNI