Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks against self-styled cow protectors haven't gone down well with Vishwa Hindu Parishad, as it has dubbed it as an "insult" to them and an attempt by the BJP to appease the minorities ahead of UP polls.

AGRA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks against self-styled cow protectors haven't gone down well with Vishwa Hindu Parishad, as it has dubbed it as an "insult" to them and an attempt by the BJP to appease the minorities ahead of UP polls.

Talking to TOI, VHP’s UP vice-president (Cow Protection), Sunil Parashar, said," we were not expecting such a statement from PM. He has insulted us". Claiming that Modi and BJP had changed colours after coming to power, Parashar said such statements would cost them politically.

He said the VHP has been working for cow protection for long and many Bajrang Dal activists have sacrificed their life for it. “Modi’s statement is an insult to all those who have sacrificed their lives for cow protection”, he said adding that the Hindu community would not tolerate such statements. He said the VHP “condemns” it.

He said, “Atal jee government was also powerful and it did a lot of developmental work, while being corruption free. But his (Atals’) love for Musharaf brought BJP to the ground”, Prashar said adding that Modi too, with is “love for Nawaz Shareef and Muslims” was towing the same line and hence would meet a similar fate.

Claiming that Modi was trying to appease Muslims by giving such statements, Prashar said this would cost the BJP its Hindu votes. Maintaining that the VHP would continue its work and would support all those who talk about Ram Mandi, cow protection and Hindu Samaj, Prashar said Modi’s comments were an "election jumla".

Meanwhile, the All India Jamaitul Queresh, a Muslim organisation in Agra, has welcomed Modi’s remarks. President of the organisation, Mohd Sharif Qureshi told TOI that the PM had spoken the truth and some people were trying to spread communal tensions in the name of cow protection. He said such people should be exposed and arrested.

