Cattle trading behind 21 communal riots since 2015

New Delhi, May 5  Emphasising that cattle trading was not prohibited in India, the Narendra Modi government on Thursday said that 21 incidents of cow and beef transportation resulted in communal riots during the year of 2015 and 2016.

In a statement in response to the calling attention notice in the Rajya Sabha, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that such incidents were recorded from states like Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana, Jharkhand, Odisha, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.

Citing that "police and public order" was a state subject, the minister said "state governments were primarily responsible for prevention, detection, registration and investigation of crime and for prosecuting the criminals".

Replying to a discussion on incidents of violence against cattle traders in various parts of the country, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said that all political parties should come together to ensure peace in the country.

He said that pictures of cow slaughter were being put on social sites that incite people. The minister, however, said everything possible was being done to ensure peaceful atmosphere in the country.

The opposition Congress was not satisfied with the government's response on the issue and said that the Modi government was silent on how a minority community, involved in the cattle trade, would be protected from violent incidents and attacks.

"Purpose of the debate has been lost," Leader of opposition Gulam Nabi Azad said after hearing Rijiju.

Earlier speaking on the issue, Kumari Selja of the Congress demanded a policy on it and said the issue should not be politicised.