Bhartiya Gau Raksha Dal

The Bhartiya Gau Raksha Dal (Hindi: भारतीय गौ रक्षा दल, lit. 'Indian Cow Protection Organization' AKA: BGRD) is a Hindu nationalist and right-wing federation of cattle protection movements in India affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh[3][4] and a member of the Sangh Parivar. It provides guidance and support in the construction of protective shelters for cattle and is supporting cattle protection movements all over India. This organization is not affiliated with any political party, its members are all volunteers and it was founded in 2012 by Pawan Pandit.[5][6]

Bhartiya Gau Raksha Dal
भारतीय गौ रक्षा दल
AbbreviationBGRD
MottoVande Gau Mataram
वन्दे गौ मातरम
Formation24 August 2012 (2012-08-24)
FounderPawan Pandit
TypeRight-wing Hindu nationalist organisation
PurposeSupporting Hindu nationalism, Cow Protection Movement
HeadquartersNew Delhi, India
Region served
India
Official language
Hindi
Chairman
Pawan Pandit[1]
Websitebgrd.org [2]

Awards

The organization has offered two different awards to be given to cattle protection movements, namely the "Hindu Ratna Awards" and the "Cattle Guard Honor Awards" (Gau Rakshak Samman Puraskar). Both awards were introduced by Pawan Pandit, both being given for the promotion of cattle protection and for the promotion of Hinduism by volunteers.[7][8]

Activities

In supporting the creation of new cattle protection groups, the organization has already set up more than 32 cattle protection groups in different Indian states.[9] It has spearheaded a campaign against the killing of cattle, filling many complaints against those who were found to be killers.[10][11] A member of the group was appointed to the cattle protection state committee in Punjab, strengthening the group's influence.[12] They openly participate in television debates and public meetings to support cattle protection groups, such as in the Akhlaq murder case.[13][14]

On June 25, 2016, two organization members were allegedly shot by cattle smugglers,[15] and on July 27, the Indian news channel, NDTV, aired a debate in which it was reported by Pawan Pandit that 100 volunteers in the cattle protection movement were shot by cattle smugglers. Later, he further said that approximately 44,000 cases of cattle smuggling have occurred in all of India, however, the media didn't broadcast anything about it.[16]

On July 31, 2016, NDTV has aired a report which shows a group of organization members forcibly stopping a truck on the outskirts of Pune, Maharashtra, yanking the driver out, snatching his phone, and pushing his truck to a police station.[17] The report further elaborates on how the so-called "cattle protectors" and other activists can be bribed to guarantee safe passage for cattle transporters.

The BGRD founder, Pawan Pandit strongly condemned any violence against humanity, stating that the organization is against the violence and is working on social ground with the police, yet there's a strong media backlash stating that vigilantes don't have a right to police anyone.[18][19][20]

See also

References
  1. "Pawan Pandit Appeal For Raise voice against cow slaughter & Join Cow Protection Movement".
  2. Gittinger, Juli L. (2018). Hinduism and Hindu Nationalism Online. Routledge. p. 169. ISBN 9781351103633.
  3. "BGRD Announces Awards Event on August 27th". Hindusatan News. 11 July 2016.
  4. "RSS' India model comes to Gujarat". Hindustan Times. 31 July 2016.
  5. "The BGRD - Our Story". The BGRD. Archived from the original on 13 August 2016.
  6. Salam, Ziya Us (2019). Lynch Files: The Forgotten Saga of Victims of Hate Crime. SAGE Publications India. p. 57. ISBN 9789353282202.
  7. "BGRD Announces Awards Event on August 27th". Hindusatan News. 11 July 2016.
  8. "Gau Rakshaks to kick off 'Gau Rakshan yatra' in Hry from Aug 16". The Pioneer. 9 August 2018.
  9. "Bhartiya Gau Raksha Dal Website". The BGRD.
  10. "5 Dead After Mob Stops a Truck Carrying Cattle". Patrika. 18 June 2016.
  11. "BGRD Campaign for Apprehending Cattle Killers". RanchiExpress. 7 May 2015. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  12. "Indian Cattle Protection State Committee appointed in Punjab". DainikBhaskar. 3 July 2015.
  13. "'Zee News' Debate on the Akhlaq murder and beef politics". YouTube. 10 October 2015.
  14. "Bringing the cows home". Business Line. 10 March 2018.
  15. "Two Gau Raksha Dal volunteers shot in Gurgaon". NewsX. 25 June 2016.
  16. "Beatings for the Publicity 'In the Name of the Cow'". Khabar NDTV. 28 July 2016.
  17. "Exposing Cow Terrorism NDTV - Beef Janata Party". Facebook. 31 July 2016.
  18. ""Vigilantes have no Role Here", Comments the Hindustan Times". Hindustan Times. 25 July 2016.
  19. "Haryana Police to Work with Cattle Vigilantes". Newslaundry. 19 July 2016.
  20. "'A cow's life is more precious than a human being's'". Rediff. 11 April 2017.
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