Template:Infobox militant organization The Bhartiya Gau Raksha Dal (Template:Literal translation; Template:Small:Template:Abbr) is an Indian right-wing militant Hindutva organisation. Involved in the cow protection movement, the group is affiliated with the right-wing Hindutva paramilitary organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and is a member of the Sangh Parivar.[1] It regularly engages in vigilante violence against minorities, primarily Muslims and Dalits. It was founded in 2012 by Pawan Pandit.[2]
History
Background
Template:Main The cow has long been regarded as sacred in Hinduism. However, in modern India, the promotion of cow protection, through the cow protection movement, arises more from the exclusivist and antagonistic, Hindu fundamentalist, and caste-based aspects of Hindutva, a Hindu nationalist ideology, than from the principle of ahimsa (Template:Translation) or genuine religious devotion.Template:Sfn
Establishment
The BGRD was established by Pawan Pandit in 2012.Template:Sfn Its members, known as "Gau Rakshaks",Template:Sfn are predominantly Brahmins.[1] In 2015, a member of the group was appointed to the cattle protection state committee in Punjab, strengthening the group's influence.[3]
Activities
Considered to be a vigilante paramilitary organisation,[4] the BGRD has a Gau Commando Force, involving vigilantes patrolling state borders for people smuggling cows and conducting raids on slaughterhouses.[5] The organisation is regularly involved in anti-Muslim and anti-Dalit violence.[6][7] Despite credible evidence, many of the accused have faced minimal legal consequences. Furthermore, the police often coordinates and works with the group.[8] The group itself has been criticised by many for its engagement in vigilante policing.[6][7][9][10]
See also
References
Citations
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 RSS' India model comes to Gujarat, Guha, Ramachandra. Hindustan Times(31 July 2016).
- ↑ Lynch Files: The Forgotten Saga of Victims of Hate Crime{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. SAGE Publications India(2019). ISBN 9789353282202
- ↑ Indian Cattle Protection State Committee appointed in Punjab. Dainik Bhaskar(3 July 2015).
- ↑ India: 'Cow Protection' Spurs Vigilante Violence. Human Rights Watch(27 April 2017). Retrieved 16 June 2023.
- ↑ Bringing the cows home. Business Line(March 10, 2018).
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Emboldened by Modi's ascent, India's cow vigilantes deny Muslims their livelihood. Reuters(6 November 2017).
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Beatings for the Publicity 'In the Name of the Cow'. NDTV(28 July 2016).
- ↑ Go for gau-raksha: Haryana police to work with cow vigilantes, Malhotra, Kshitij. Newslaundry(19 July 2016).
- ↑ "Vigilantes have no Role Here", Comments the Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times(25 July 2016).
- ↑ 'A cow's life is more precious than a human being's'. Rediff(11 April 2017).
Bibliography
- The Rhetoric of Violence, Religion, and Purity in India's Cow Protection Movement. Journal of Religion and Violence({Template:Date).