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{{Infobox organization
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
| name                = Bhartiya Gau Raksha Dal
| caption            = Official logo of Gau Raksha Dal, [[Haryana]].
| abbreviation        = BGRD
| motto              = Vande Gau Mataram <br> ''वन्दे गौ मातरम''
| formation          = {{start date and age|df=yes|2012|08|24|p=y}}
| image              = File:Bhartiya Gau RakshaDal BGRD.jpg
| founder            = Pawan Pandit
| type                = Right-wing [[Hindu nationalist]] organisation
| purpose            = Supporting [[Hindu nationalism]], [[Cow Protection Movement]]
| headquarters        = [[New Delhi]], [[India]]
| region_served      = [[Haryana]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Chhattisgarh]], [[Rajasthan]] and [[Madhya Pradesh]]
| language            = [[Hindi]]
| leader_title        = Chairman
| leader_name        = Pawan Pandit<ref>{{cite web|title=Pawan Pandit Appeal For Raise voice against cow slaughter & Join Cow Protection Movement
|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4Xz3_lyEWo}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|bgrd.org/|Official website}} <ref>{{cite book|last1= Gittinger|first1=Juli L.|title=Hinduism and Hindu Nationalism Online|publisher=Routledge|date=2018 |page=169 |isbn=9781351103633|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=zaxvDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT169}}</ref>
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2016}}
{{Short description|Indian militant Hindutva organisation}}
{{Infobox militant organization
| name            = Bhartiya Gau Raksha Dal
| caption          = Official logo of the organisation.
| logo            =
| other_name      = BGRD
| founder          = Pawan Pandit&lt;ref name="LM"&gt;{{cite web |first=Ashwaq |last=Masoodi |title=Who is a Gau Rakshak? |date=26 Jul 2016 |url=https://www.livemint.com/Politics/Mi6HZpayTzwJT7G6zy8dTO/Who-is-a-Gau-Rakshak.html |website=[[LiveMint]]}}&lt;/ref&gt;
| leader          = Pawan Pandit&lt;ref name="LM" /&gt;
| foundation      = {{start date and age|df=yes|2012|08|24|p=y}}
| motives          = Participation in the [[cow protection movement]]
| ideology        = [[Hindutva]]
| position        = [[Right-wing]]
| crimes          = {{Bulleted list
| [[Cow vigilante violence in India|Cow vigilante violence]]
| [[Violence against Muslims in India|Anti-Muslim violence]]
| [[Persecution of Dalits#India|Anti-Dalit violence]]
}}
| partof          = [[Sangh Parivar]]
}}
The '''Bhartiya Gau Raksha Dal''' ({{Literal translation|Indian Cow Protection Organisation}}; {{Small|abbr.}}:{{Abbr|BGRD|Bhartiya Gau Raksha Dal}}) is an Indian [[Right-wing politics|right-wing]] [[Militia|militant]] [[Hindutva]] organisation. Involved in the [[cow protection movement]], the group is affiliated with the [[Right-wing politics|right-wing]] Hindutva [[paramilitary]] organisation [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] (RSS) and is a member of the [[Sangh Parivar]].&lt;ref name="HC"&gt;{{Cite web |first=Ramachandra |last=Guha |author-link=Ramachandra Guha |date=31 July 2016 |title=RSS' India model comes to Gujarat |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/columns/rss-india-model-comes-to-gujarat/story-0ePXSzxH5Y10VBDJIoe7jJ.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731192643/https://www.hindustantimes.com/columns/rss-india-model-comes-to-gujarat/story-0ePXSzxH5Y10VBDJIoe7jJ.html |archive-date=31 July 2016 |website=[[Hindustan Times]]}}&lt;/ref&gt; It regularly engages in [[Sectarian violence|vigilante violence]] against minorities, primarily [[Violence against Muslims in India|Muslims]] and [[Persecution of Dalits#India|Dalits]]. It was founded in 2012 by Pawan Pandit.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite book |last1=Salam |first1=Ziya Us |title=Lynch Files: The Forgotten Saga of Victims of Hate Crime |publisher=SAGE Publications India |date=2019 |page=57 |isbn=9789353282202 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=CeGCDwAAQBAJ&amp;pg=PT57}}&lt;/ref&gt;


The '''Bhartiya Gau Raksha Dal''' ({{Literal translation|Indian Cow Protection Organization}}; {{Small|abbr.}}:{{Abbr|BGRD|Bhartiya Gau Raksha Dal}}) is a [[Hindu nationalist]] and [[Right-wing populism|right-wing]] federation of [[cow protection movement|cattle protection movements]] in [[India]] affiliated with the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] and a member of the [[Sangh Parivar]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hindusatan.com/2016/07/bhartiya-gau-raksha-dalbgrd-announces_11.html|title=BGRD Announces Awards Event on August 27th|date=July 11, 2016|website=Hindusatan News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/columns/rss-india-model-comes-to-gujarat/story-0ePXSzxH5Y10VBDJIoe7jJ.html|title=RSS' India model comes to Gujarat
== History ==
|date=July 31, 2016|website=Hindustan Times}}</ref> It provides guidance and support in the construction of [[Goshala|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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bgrd.in/our-story/|title=The BGRD - Our Story|website=The BGRD|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813192739/http://bgrd.in/our-story/|archive-date=13 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Salam |first1=Ziya Us |title=Lynch Files: The Forgotten Saga of Victims of Hate Crime |publisher=SAGE Publications India |date=2019 |page=57 |isbn=9789353282202 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=CeGCDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT57}}</ref>
=== Background ===
{{Main|Cow protection movement}}
The cow has long been regarded as sacred in [[Hinduism]]. However, in modern India, the promotion of cow protection, through the cow protection movement, arises more from the exclusivist and antagonistic, Hindu fundamentalist, and [[Caste system in India|caste-based]] aspects of [[Hindutva]], a [[Hindu nationalism|Hindu nationalist]] ideology, than from the principle of ''[[ahimsa]]'' ({{Translation|Non-violence}}) or genuine religious devotion.{{Sfn|Gittinger|2017|pages=131–149}}


==Awards==
{{Blockquote|text=Such a point of honour in our national life is none else but Mother Cow, the living symbol of the Mother Earth — that deserves to be the sole object of devotion and worship. To stop forthwith any onslaught on this particular point of our national honour, and to foster the spirit of devotion to the motherland, [a] ban on cow slaughter should find topmost priority in our programme of national renaissance in [[Swaraj]].|title=|author=[[M. S. Golwalkar]]&lt;ref name="HC" /&gt;}}
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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hindusatan.com/2016/07/bhartiya-gau-raksha-dalbgrd-announces_11.html|title=BGRD Announces Awards Event on August 27th|date=July 11, 2016|website=Hindusatan News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2018/state-editions/gau-rakshaks-to-kick-off-gau-rakshan-yatra-in-hry-from-aug-16.html|title=Gau Rakshaks to kick off 'Gau Rakshan yatra' in Hry from Aug 16|date=August 9, 2018 |publisher=The Pioneer}}</ref>
 
=== Establishment ===
The BGRD was established by Pawan Pandit in 2012.{{Sfn|Gittinger|2017|page=143}} Its members, known as "''Gau Rakshaks''",{{Sfn|Gittinger|2017|page=143}} are predominantly ''[[Brahmins]]''.&lt;ref name="HC" /&gt; In 2015, a member of the group was appointed to the cattle protection state committee in [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], strengthening the group's influence.&lt;ref name="Reuters"&gt;{{Cite web |date=3 July 2015 |title=Indian Cattle Protection State Committee appointed in Punjab |url=https://www.bhaskar.com/news/PUN-OTH-MAT-latest-rahon-news-031033-2181769-NOR.html |website=[[Dainik Bhaskar]]}}&lt;/ref&gt;


== Activities ==
== 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bgrd.org/|title=Bhartiya Gau Raksha Dal Website|website=The BGRD}}</ref> It has spearheaded a campaign against the killing of cattle, filling many complaints against those who were found to be killers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.patrika.com/news/ghaziabad/truck-was-full-of-neat-cattle-ruckus-1326936/|title=5 Dead After Mob Stops a Truck Carrying Cattle|date=June 18, 2016|website=Patrika}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ranchiexpress.com/%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8C-%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%82-%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8B-%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%9C%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%87-%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%87/|title=BGRD Campaign for Apprehending Cattle Killers|date=May 7, 2015|website=RanchiExpress|access-date=10 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005101819/http://ranchiexpress.com/%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8C-%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%82-%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8B-%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%9C%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%87-%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%87/|archive-date=5 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> A member of the group was appointed to the cattle protection state committee in [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], strengthening the group's influence.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bhaskar.com/news/PUN-OTH-MAT-latest-rahon-news-031033-2181769-NOR.html|title=Indian Cattle Protection State Committee appointed in Punjab|date=July 3, 2015|website=DainikBhaskar}}</ref> They openly participate in television debates and public meetings to support cattle protection groups, such as in the Akhlaq murder case.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDTmRkVjkyk|title='Zee News' Debate on the Akhlaq murder and beef politics|date=October 10, 2015|website=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blink/know/bringing-the-cows-home/article21987730.ece1|title=Bringing the cows home|date=March 10, 2018|publisher=Business Line}}</ref>
Considered to be a [[Vigilantism|vigilante]] [[paramilitary]] organisation,&lt;ref&gt;{{Cite web |date=27 April 2017 |title=India: 'Cow Protection' Spurs Vigilante Violence |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/04/27/india-cow-protection-spurs-vigilante-violence |access-date=16 June 2023 |website=[[Human Rights Watch]] |language=en}}&lt;/ref&gt; the BGRD has a ''Gau Commando Force'', involving vigilantes patrolling state borders for people [[Cattle theft in India|smuggling cows]] and conducting raids on [[Slaughterhouse|slaughterhouses]].&lt;ref&gt;{{Cite web |date=March 10, 2018 |title=Bringing the cows home |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blink/know/bringing-the-cows-home/article21987730.ece1 |publisher=[[Business Line]]}}&lt;/ref&gt; The organisation is regularly involved in [[Violence against Muslims in India|anti-Muslim]] and [[Persecution of Dalits#India|anti-Dalit violence]].&lt;ref name=":0"&gt;{{Cite web |date=6 November 2017 |title=Emboldened by Modi's ascent, India's cow vigilantes deny Muslims their livelihood |url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/india-politics-religion-cows/ |website=[[Reuters]]}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name=":1"&gt;{{cite web |date=28 July 2016 |title=Beatings for the Publicity 'In the Name of the Cow' |url=http://khabar.ndtv.com/video/show/badi-khabar/badi-khabar-beating-for-the-publicity-in-the-name-of-the-cow-425406 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804181622/http://khabar.ndtv.com/video/show/badi-khabar/badi-khabar-beating-for-the-publicity-in-the-name-of-the-cow-425406 |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 August 2016 |publisher=[[NDTV]] }}&lt;/ref&gt; Despite credible evidence, many of the accused have faced minimal legal consequences. Furthermore, the police often coordinates and works with the group.&lt;ref&gt;{{Cite web |last=Malhotra |first=Kshitij |date=19 July 2016 |title=Go for gau-raksha: Haryana police to work with cow vigilantes |url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2016/07/19/go-for-gau-raksha-haryana-police-to-work-with-cow-vigilantes |website=[[Newslaundry]]}}&lt;/ref&gt; The group itself has been criticised by many for its engagement in vigilante policing.&lt;ref name=":0" /&gt;&lt;ref name=":1" /&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite web |date=25 July 2016 |title="Vigilantes have no Role Here", Comments the Hindustan Times |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/comment-newspaper/vigilantes-have-no-role-here/story-9FslYqerrO1jqOPxFeZqNP.html |publisher=[[Hindustan Times]]}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite web |date=11 April 2017 |title='A cow's life is more precious than a human being's' |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/interview/a-cows-life-is-more-precious-than-a-human-beings/20170411.htm |publisher=[[Rediff]]}}&lt;/ref&gt;
 
On June 25, 2016, two organization members were allegedly shot by cattle smugglers,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsx.com/national/33423-two-gau-raksha-dal-volunteers-shot-in-gurgaon|title=Two Gau Raksha Dal volunteers shot in Gurgaon|date=June 25, 2016|publisher=NewsX}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://khabar.ndtv.com/video/show/badi-khabar/badi-khabar-beating-for-the-publicity-in-the-name-of-the-cow-425406|title=Beatings for the Publicity 'In the Name of the Cow'|date=July 28, 2016|publisher=Khabar NDTV}}</ref>
 
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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/beefjanataparty/videos/1176096285786593/|title=Exposing Cow Terrorism NDTV - Beef Janata Party|date=July 31, 2016|publisher=Facebook}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/comment-newspaper/vigilantes-have-no-role-here/story-9FslYqerrO1jqOPxFeZqNP.html|title="Vigilantes have no Role Here", Comments the Hindustan Times|date=July 25, 2016|publisher=Hindustan Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newslaundry.com/2016/07/19/go-for-gau-raksha-haryana-police-to-work-with-cow-vigilantes/|title=Haryana Police to Work with Cattle Vigilantes|date=July 19, 2016|publisher=Newslaundry}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rediff.com/news/interview/a-cows-life-is-more-precious-than-a-human-beings/20170411.htm|title='A cow's life is more precious than a human being's'|date=April 11, 2017|publisher=Rediff}}</ref>


== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[Cow Protection Movement]]
{{Portal|Politics|Conservatism|India
* [[Hindutva]]
}}
* [[Cow vigilante violence in India]]
* [[Hindu terrorism]]


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}
 
=== Bibliography ===
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite journal |last=Gittinger |first=Juli L. |date=2017 |title=The Rhetoric of Violence, Religion, and Purity in India's Cow Protection Movement |journal=[[Journal of Religion and Violence]] |volume=5 |issue=2 |JSTOR=26671533}}
{{Refend}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://bgrd.org/}} {{in lang|en}}
* {{Official website|http://bgrd.org/}} {{in lang|en}}
{{Hindu Nationalism}}{{Sangh Parivar}}


{{Hindu Nationalism}}
{{Sangh Parivar}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhartiya Gau Raksha Dal}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bhartiya Gau Raksha Dal}}
[[Category:Organizations established in 2012]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 2012]]
[[Category:Hindutva]]
[[Category:Incitement to genocide by the Hindutva movement]]
[[Category:Volunteer organisations in India]]
[[Category:Volunteer organisations in India]]
[[Category:Hindu nationalism]]
[[Category:Political organisations based in India]]
[[Category:Political organisations based in India]]
[[Category:Sangh Parivar]]
[[Category:Sangh Parivar]]
[[Category:2012 establishments in India]]
[[Category:2012 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Animal welfare organisations based in India]]
[[Category:Cattle welfare organisations based in India]]
[[Category:Cattle welfare organisations based in India]]
[[Category:Hinduism-related controversies]]
[[Category:Hinduism-related controversies]]
[[Category:Right-wing populism in Asia]]
[[Category:Right-wing populism in India]]
[[Category:Hindu organisations based in India]]
[[Category:Militant Hindu groups]]
[[Category:Hinduism and cattle]]
[[Category:Paramilitary organisations based in India]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Hindu terrorism]]
[[Category:Persecution of Muslims]]
[[Category:Anti-Muslim violence in India]]
[[Category:Caste-related violence in India]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Delhi]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Haryana]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Rajasthan]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Chhattisgarh]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Madhya Pradesh]]
[[Category:Far-right politics in India]]

Revision as of 03:01, 5 March 2026



Bhartiya Gau Raksha Dal
Also known asBGRD
FounderPawan Pandit<ref name="LM">Masoodi, Ashwaq (26 July 2016). "Who is a Gau Rakshak?". LiveMint.</ref>
LeaderPawan Pandit<ref name="LM" />
Foundation24 August 2012 (13 years ago) (2012-08-24)
MotivesParticipation in the cow protection movement
IdeologyHindutva
Political positionRight-wing
Major actions
Part ofSangh Parivar

The Bhartiya Gau Raksha Dal (lit. 'Indian Cow Protection Organisation'; abbr.:BGRD) is an Indian right-wing militant Hindutva organisation. Involved in the cow protection movement, the group is affiliated with the right-wing Hindutva paramilitary organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and is a member of the Sangh Parivar.<ref name="HC">Guha, Ramachandra (31 July 2016). "RSS' India model comes to Gujarat". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 31 July 2016.</ref> It regularly engages in vigilante violence against minorities, primarily Muslims and Dalits. It was founded in 2012 by Pawan Pandit.<ref>Salam, Ziya Us (2019). Lynch Files: The Forgotten Saga of Victims of Hate Crime. SAGE Publications India. p. 57. ISBN 9789353282202.</ref>

History

Background

Main article: Cow protection movement

The cow has long been regarded as sacred in Hinduism. However, in modern India, the promotion of cow protection, through the cow protection movement, arises more from the exclusivist and antagonistic, Hindu fundamentalist, and caste-based aspects of Hindutva, a Hindu nationalist ideology, than from the principle of ahimsa (transl. Non-violence) or genuine religious devotion.[1]

Such a point of honour in our national life is none else but Mother Cow, the living symbol of the Mother Earth — that deserves to be the sole object of devotion and worship. To stop forthwith any onslaught on this particular point of our national honour, and to foster the spirit of devotion to the motherland, [a] ban on cow slaughter should find topmost priority in our programme of national renaissance in Swaraj.

— M. S. Golwalkar<ref name="HC" />

Establishment

The BGRD was established by Pawan Pandit in 2012.[2] Its members, known as "Gau Rakshaks",[2] are predominantly Brahmins.<ref name="HC" /> In 2015, a member of the group was appointed to the cattle protection state committee in Punjab, strengthening the group's influence.<ref name="Reuters">"Indian Cattle Protection State Committee appointed in Punjab". Dainik Bhaskar. 3 July 2015.</ref>

Activities

Considered to be a vigilante paramilitary organisation,<ref>"India: 'Cow Protection' Spurs Vigilante Violence". Human Rights Watch. 27 April 2017. Retrieved 16 June 2023.</ref> the BGRD has a Gau Commando Force, involving vigilantes patrolling state borders for people smuggling cows and conducting raids on slaughterhouses.<ref>"Bringing the cows home". Business Line. 10 March 2018.</ref> The organisation is regularly involved in anti-Muslim and anti-Dalit violence.<ref name=":0">"Emboldened by Modi's ascent, India's cow vigilantes deny Muslims their livelihood". Reuters. 6 November 2017.</ref><ref name=":1">"Beatings for the Publicity 'In the Name of the Cow'". NDTV. 28 July 2016. Archived from the original on 4 August 2016.</ref> Despite credible evidence, many of the accused have faced minimal legal consequences. Furthermore, the police often coordinates and works with the group.<ref>Malhotra, Kshitij (19 July 2016). "Go for gau-raksha: Haryana police to work with cow vigilantes". Newslaundry.</ref> The group itself has been criticised by many for its engagement in vigilante policing.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>""Vigilantes have no Role Here", Comments the Hindustan Times". Hindustan Times. 25 July 2016.</ref><ref>"'A cow's life is more precious than a human being's'". Rediff. 11 April 2017.</ref>

See also

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Gittinger 2017, pp. 131–149.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Gittinger 2017, p. 143.

Bibliography

External links

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