It is difficult to say which part of our political and social life will be next affected by the virus of cow politics unleashed on the country by our Prime Minister, the BJP and the broader Sangh Parivar. Today, cow is a strong symbol of power. Its self-proclaimed guardians are violating the laws and rules of the country, including our Constitution, to implement their poisonous agenda. The situation is such that no other right has any standing before the allegations of cow slaughter, eating cow’s meat and transporting cows.
The incident that occurred in Kerala House in the national capital falls in the same category of intolerance that killed Mohammad Akhlaq in UP, Noman in Himachal Pradesh and Zahid Bhat in Jammu. No one was beaten to death in Delhi. However, the fact that the marauders of Hindutva were able to make the police dance to their tune makes it clear that authority and laws of the country have been turned upside down completely.
There is a ban on killing cows in Delhi, but there is no ban on buffalo meat. My understanding is that keeping buffalo meat and consuming it had never been unlawful. The fact that, instead of taking action against people who tried to disrupt law and order in a private property, police accused operators of the Kerala House canteen is a sign of danger.
If police action can be very easily sabotaged in Delhi, just think how bad they will be in other parts of the country. There is law here only to protect people implementing food fascism. What is sad is that there are no laws for communities such as Muslims, dalits, adivasis and Christians and other individuals who see nothing wrong in consuming beef (cow or buffalo meat).
(The writer is the former editor of The Hindu and the founder editor of thewire.in)