Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot on Wednesday said the so-called cow protection groups are just like any other social organisation formed for a cause, reported The Indian Express. He said gau rakshak committee members should, however, verify rumours before acting on them.

Gehlot said, “There is a law prohibiting cow slaughter. The Centre has it, so do the states, and there are rules too. Laws are in place, but what can one do about rumours… These are all social organisations. Someone may have informed them [about cow slaughter] and they would have rushed. What they need to do is find out its veracity and then go." He mentioned the incidents of assault on Dalit men in Una and Dadri, and said both incidents took place because of such rumours.