The All India Kisan Sabha, the farmers’ wing of the CPM, has demanded a judicial probe into the death by lynching of a man in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh, over charges of killing a cow for beef.
A statement released by the AIKS said that the organisation would organise a campaign all over the country for keeping the peasantry united in the face of such incidents. A CPM team, including senior leader Brinda Karat, had visited Dadri earlier.
“AIKS calls on the entire peasantry to condemn this coward and inhuman incident and come forward in support of maintaining peace and harmony among villages against those religious fundamentalist forces who for political gains indulge in violence creating mass hysteria. AIKS units at various levels shall organise massive campaign all over the country,” said a statement released by AIKS.
The AIKS also noted the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue. “It is a matter of concern that so far Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is responsible for protecting the right to life of citizens in the country, did not condemn this most heinous act on humanity by Hindu fundamentalist forces. Beef eating is a tradition among food habits of Indian people. Over 70% of the population in the country eat meat and among them above 50% eat beef too. In states like Kerala, around 85% consume meat. Beef is the cheapest nutritional food of the poor and backward sections, including Dalits and Adivasis,” said the statement, refuting the contention that only Muslims eat beef.
The AIKS statement also said that economic reasons should also be considered before calling for a ban on beef-eating. “Selling animals is a source of income to support cultivation and livelihood of farm households. The ban on slaughter has blocked that income source of cultivators who are facing deep distress and debt trap,” said the statement.