Indeed, Una underscores the pressing need to ban cow-protection groups. It is through the conscious sharing of a common religion, Hindutva argues, that Hindus can paper over their differences to present a united front against their common 'enemy' - the Muslims.For decades, the proponents of Hindutva have been claiming that since Hindus rever the cow as holy, its slaughter should be prohibited to respect their religious sentiments.
There was passionate debate in the Constituent Assembly whether or not to ban cow-slaughter. Protests against Una have seen Dalits and Muslims together petition different district authorities for justice, suggesting that the two communities realise they are united in the suffering that rampaging Hindutva inflicts on them. It is to thwart the challenge from below that Hindutva seeks to demonize Muslims, hoping Hindus will then forget their own differences and unite against the common foe. To overcome its fear, Hindutva has turned the cow into a strategy. There is thus a perpetual, unannounced war between Hindus and Muslims over the cow. Una has, to an extent, shattered Hindutva's narrative regarding the Muslim's inexhaustible appetite for beef.By contrast, the more pressing agenda of subaltern social groups is to end social discrimination.