New Delhi: At a time when the country is erupting with both anger and despair over lynchings by cow vigilantes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi came down heavily on them and warned that “killing in the name of cow protection will not be tolerated.”

Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, attacked the PM terming his statements as an ‘eyewash’. The Congress dismissed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s warning to those killing people in the name of cow protection as nothing but an eyewash and yet another publicity stunt.

Minutes after the PM’s statement, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee termed the statement as “just words”. However, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah welcomed the statement of the Prime Minister but had reservations over its implementation on the ground. He said: “Well said sir. Here’s hoping the people carrying out these despicable acts take your words to heart and act accordingly.”

Hyderabad: AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday said that the statement of PM Narendra Modi on lynching incidents will not have any impact on ground unless the Centre takes stringent action against the groups responsible for it. “There was no desired affect of the PM’s appeal as these so called Gau-Rakshaks getting direct/indirect support of BJP, RSS and its affiliated groups as most of the incidents taking place in BJP ruling states,” he said.