No sympathy for perpetrators of violence: Jaitley on lynchings

No sympathy will be shown to perpetrators involved in mob lynchings, Finance minister Jaitley said adding that the government is fully committed to protecting Dalits and minorities.

A day after Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad questioned the government's role in taking action against those involved in mob lynchings, the Opposition stepped up its attack on the fourth day of the Parliament Monsoon Session.

In a reply to this, Jaitley said that the issue of lynchings is 'crucial' and to give it political colours won't be fair. The PM has in the past spoken against gau rakshaks.

'In respect to each incident of violence, the home minister spoke to every CM of the state and kept a track of cases against them. All the



perpetrators are in jails, they will be prosecuted and serve their punishments' said Jaitley.

Jaitley also made reference to Article 48 written by Dr Ambedkar on using scientific and modern methods for cattle slaughter.

The Opposition responds by saying no party has raised objection to the laws prohibiting cow slaughter. Our issue is the crimes committed against minorities in the name of cow.

To kill a human in the name of cow is unequivocally condemned, but to provoke anyone at least in a place where cow slaughter is prohibited is equally condemnable.

'When Oomen Chandy was CM of Kerala, we (BJP) never said there were acts of violence in the state.' Ruckus prevailed for in Parliament over Jailtley's remarks on Kerala violence.