1966 anti-cow slaughter agitation

In 1966, several Hindu organisations and a political party agitated to demand a ban on the slaughter of cows in India, as enshrined in the Directive Principles of State Policy in the Constitution of India. Among others, the Shankaracharya fasted for the cause. The agitation culminated in a massive demonstration outside the parliament house in New Delhi on 7 November 1966 (corresponding to Kartik Shukla Ashtami day also known as Gopa Ashtami as per Indian national calendar, Vikram Samvat).[1] The Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi did not accept the demand for a ban on cow slaughter.[2] The police fired upon the agitators killing a few of them. The agitation did not succeed in its aim.

Composition of demonstrators

The number of participants was estimated between 300,000 (3 lakh) and 700,000 (7 lakh). The parties which organised the demonstration were the Jan Sangh, the Hindu Mahasabha, the Arya Samaj and the Sanatan Dharma Sabha.[3]

Peaceful demonstrators turned violent

The demonstrators led by Hindu holymen marched to the parliament house through the capital city in a silent and peaceful protest against cow slaughter. They were stopped just before the parliament house where the holymen addressed them peacefully from a dais. The trouble started when a section of sadhus tried to force their entry into the Parliament House. The police prevented from entering the parliament house and a running skirmish took place between the demonstrators, who slugged brickbats and other missiles, and a large force of policemen and policewomen including horse-mounted policemen. Some of the demonstrators turned violent and damaged adjacent buildings and vehicles.[4][5] The police cane-charged the demonstrators and used tear gas to disperse them. The police shot at the protesters. The official count was that three hundred and seventy five men died in police firing.[6][7] A curfew was imposed on the city and all demonstrations, meetings and assembly of more than five persons at a time were banned.[1] The curfew was imposed for 48 hours but was lifted the next morning.

Aftermath

The home minister Gulzarilal Nanda resigned, taking responsibility for the administration's failure to maintain law and order. The Shankaracharya Niranjandev Tirth, Swami Karpatri and Mahatma Ramchandra Veer observed a fast in protest

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "The Spokesman-Review - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com. 8 November 1966. Retrieved 2017-04-05.
  2. ↑ https://hinduexistence.org/2016/11/07/remembering-the-50-years-of-largest-hindu-killing-by-indira-gandhi-in-goraksha-abhiyan-in-delhi/amp/?__twitter_impression=true
  3. ↑ https://www.thehindu.com/archives/article16183780.ece
  4. ↑ https://www.thehindu.com/archives/article16183780.ece<
  5. ↑ "Looking back: The first Parliament gherao took place in 1966 – and was carried out by gau rakshaks".
  6. ↑ "Samithi wants cow-slaughter ban all over". The Hindu. 8 November 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2016.
  7. ↑ Remembering the 7th Nov 1966 Gopastami Hindu Massacre in Delhi
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