Vedas order killing of sinners: Panchjanya

We don't support Dadri killing: RSS

New Delhi : The mob lynching of a Muslim man over rumour that he and his family had consumed beef in Dadri, on the outskirts of Delhi, last month, has been defended in the latest edition of Panchjanya magazine, the mouthpiece of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

The cover story of the magazine, while referring to the Dadri incident, states that Vedas order the killing of "sinners" who slaughter cows. The article titled 'Is Utpaat ke Us Paar' (The other side of this mischief), states,"Veda ka adesh hai ki gau hatya karne wale pataki ke pran le lo.

Hum mein se bahuton ke liye to yah jivan-maran ka prashn hai (Vedas order killing of the sinner who kills a cow. It is a matter of life and death for many of us)." The article goes on to say that madrasas and the Muslim leadership in the country teach Muslims to disregard and hate Indian culture and traditions. "Akhlaq perhaps slaughtered a cow under the influence of such bad deeds," it states.

The article, which carries the byline of Hindi writer Tufail Chaturvedi, also slammed those writers and novelists who have returned their awards in protest against the Dadri incident. "If you do not respect the feelings of 80 percent majority then how can such reactions be prevented," the article adds.

Writer's personal opinion

Meanwhile, RSS ideologue Rakesh Sinha has rejected the article, saying that the views expressed are the writer's personal opinion and it should not be considered as RSS's stand over the issue. "RSS categorically condemned violence in Dadri, any opinion expressed by anyone supporting violence is contrary to its stand," Sinha wrote in his Twitter post.

"The report that RSS supports the Dadri incident is blatantly false and baseless," read a statement by RSS spokesman Manmohan Vaidya. "The RSS never supported any incident of violence. The RSS has clearly stated about Dadri violence that a thorough inquiry should be conducted and the guilty should be punished," he added.

Hitesh Shankar, the editor of Panchjanya, said that they do not support any violent incident. “The writers have different perspectives and thoughts about a subject… we just publish them. But I don’t remember any such article that supports violence being published in Panchjanya,” said Shankar.