AGRA: After the Yogi Adityanath government took over in UP, cases of cow smuggling and slaughtering have come down to almost zero.
According to right-wing activist who had been volunteering as cow vigilantes for last half decade claimed, the effect of CM Yogi Adityanath is such that now we don’t find any input about cow slaughtering.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s Agra unit president, Sunil Parashar said, “Since Yogi’s government in UP, there has been drastic fall in cow smuggling and slaughtering in Agra and surrounding districts. Earlier we used to rescue upto 40 cows in a month from Agra district which were been smuggled to illegal slaughter houses, but now not a single case is being reported. But yes at a couple of places cows are still being slaughtered, but we do not have evidences to prove and act on it.”
Unlike east UP, where there is dedicated group named Gau raksha dal, in western districts of UP, members of VHP, Bajrang Dal, Hindu Yuva Vahini and other right wing groups volunteers coordinate and work together to keep vigilance on the cow smugglers.
Sandeep Agrawal, Agra division public relation officer of Hindu Yuva Vahini said, “Our volunteers from different right wing groups coordinate and share every small input on cow on our Gaurakshak WhatsApp group. After the Pehlu Khan incident, we are now being very cautious and are thoroughly investigating before taking any action.”
“On rare occasions, our newly recruited volunteers in their overzealousness even target legitimate meat business owner which is not right, but strict vigilance really has its impact and we don’t see any cow smuggling or slaughtering anymore,” he said.
Speaking on anonymity, a meat shop owner in Mantola area said, “We never engaged in cow slaughtering but the hyperactive right wing volunteers have created a sense of fear, therefore we are trying to switch our business.”