Why Are We Killing Humans to Protect Cows, Asks NDA Min Athawale

Athawale has asked the government to ensure that the recent violence against Dalits isn’t repeated.

Ramdas Bandu Athawale. (Photo: IANS)

Ramdas Bandu Athawale, the Dalit leader from Maharashtra, spoke on the issue of recent violence against Dalits and cow slaughter in an interview with The Indian Express.

In the interview, the newly inducted Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, cited the incident in Una where four Dalit youths were brutally beaten up for allegedly skinning a cow. Athwale asked the government to ensure that such an incident does not happen again.

Expressing concerns over the safety of the community, Athawale said:

I want to ask gau rakshaks: There is a law against gau hatya (killing of cows), you continue with gau raksha (protection of cows), but why do manav hatya (killing of human beings)? If you do gau raksha, who will do manav raksha (protection of human beings)?

Ramdas Bandu Athawale

The NDA Minister also called out to Dalits to embrace Buddhism.

Why is Mayawati not Buddhist yet, if she claims to be a true Ambedkarite? She keeps criticising Manuvaad (casteism), talks about conversions but has not accepted Buddhism. She announced her conversion many times but remains a Hindu. Dalits should embrace Buddhism.

Ramdas Bandu Athawale

(With inputs from The Indian Express.)