| Bhartiya Gau Raksha Dal | |
|---|---|
 Official logo of the organisation. | |
| Also known as | BGRD |
| Founder | Pawan Pandit[1] |
| Leader | Pawan Pandit[1] |
| Foundation | 24 August 2012 (13 years ago) (2012-08-24) |
| Motives | Participation in thecow protection movement |
| Ideology | Hindutva |
| Political position | Right-wing |
| Major actions | |
| Part of | Sangh Parivar |
| Website | bgrd |
TheBhartiya Gau Raksha Dal (lit. 'Indian Cow Protection Organisation';abbr.:BGRD) is an Indianright-wingHindutvamilitant organisation. Involved in thecow protection movement, the group is affiliated with theright-wing Hindutvaparamilitary organisationRashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and is a member of theSangh Parivar.[3] It regularly engages invigilante violence against minorities, primarilyMuslims andDalits. It was founded in 2012 by Pawan Pandit.[4]
The cow has long been regarded as sacred inHinduism. However, in modern India, the promotion of cow protection, through thecow protection movement, arises more from the exclusivist and antogonistic, Hindu fundamentalist, andcaste-based aspects ofHindutva, aHindu nationalist ideology, than from the principle ofahimsa (transl. Non-violence) or genuine religious devotion.[5]
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 inSwaraj.
Considered to be avigilanteparamilitary organisation,[6] the BGRD has aGau Commando Force, involving vigilantes patrolling state borders for peoplesmuggling cows and conducting raids onslaughterhouses.[7] In 2015, a member of the group was appointed to the cattle protection state committee inPunjab, strengthening the group's influence.[8]
The organisation is regularly involved withanti-Muslim andanti-Dalit violence.[9][10] Despite credible evidence, many of the accused have faced minimal legal consequences. Furthermore, the police often coordinates and works with the group.[11] The group itself has been criticised by many for its engagement in vigilante policing.[9][10][12][13]
