Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Thursday denied any incident of beating or lynching in Rajasthan by 'gau rakshaks' (cow vigilantes).
He was responding to the opposition that came down heavily on the government in Rajya Sabha for being "insensitive and ill-informed" on the attacks on people by self-styled cow vigilantes.
"No such incident, as being reported, has taken place on the ground. The media reports which are being cited, the state government concerned has already condemned," he said, referring to an incident in Alwar.
The Minister added that "The issue is a very sensitive one and there should be no indication or message that we are backing those who are violent. It's an emotional issue for crores of people."
Madhusudan Mistry of the Congress raised the matter during Zero Hour and said that the self-styled 'gau rakshaks' were harassing and killing people in the name of cow protection.
He was supported by the entire opposition as all of them were on their feet while he spoke on the issue.
Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad accused the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government of ignorance, saying that the entire world knows about these attacks except them.
He even showed a report published in foreign media on the issue and said that the entire world knows about it but the Centre does not know anything about it.
Pehlu Khan, a Muslim man in his 50s, was brutally beaten up by cow vigilantes in Rajasthan's Alwar district on Saturday while transporting cows. Khan succumbed to his injuries on Monday night in a hospital where he was being treated.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien asked the government to provide an official report to the House on the issue.
--IANS
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