Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das on Saturday said that those who consider India their home should treat the cow like their mother, PTI reported. “The entire Sangh Parivar is on the same page on the issue of cow protection. Those who consider India as their country will treat cow as their mother,” Das told PTI. However, he added that there should be no violence in the name of cow vigilantism, and that such acts of aggression will “not be tolerated”.

“I personally feel those who are involved in cattle smuggling and export are involved in these crimes. This angle should be probed,” he said. The Bharatiya Janata Party leader’s comments come after several incidents of attacks in the name of cow protection. Recently, a BJP member was killed in Karnataka for transporting cows, while two Dalits were beaten in Andhra Pradesh for skinning a dead cow.

The Centre had earlier informed states and Union Territories to follow a no-tolerance policy towards attacks by such cow vigilantes. The order came days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke up against self-appointed “gau rakshaks”. He said these individuals “indulge in anti-social activities” as a “ruse to hide their misdeeds”.