The release of ‘Godaan’ on February 6 has ignited a firestorm, with Congress aggressively pushing for its ban, accusing it of spreading hate and division. But VHP national spokesperson Vinod Bansal has flipped the script, demanding Congress introspect on its violent past involving cow devotees.
In a pointed critique, Bansal evoked the tragic Boat Club incident of November 7, 1966. ‘Under Indira Gandhi, police opened fire on peaceful cow lovers assembled near Parliament. Devotees, saints, and even cows were gunned down—no records, no remorse from Congress even today,’ he charged. He claimed many were secretly executed elsewhere, painting a grim picture of state-sponsored brutality that shamed the nation.
‘Why hasn’t Congress apologized for this black day?’ Bansal asked, linking it to later assaults on Ram bhakts. He dismissed the ban demands as hypocrisy, insisting the focus should shift to protecting cows nationwide. ‘Parliament must act to ban cow slaughter and grant the cow its due respect,’ he advocated.
Opposition to the film isn’t isolated; Muslim religious leaders echo Congress sentiments. UP Congress heavyweights Anshu Awasthi and Poonam Pandit have voiced strong objections. Directed by Amit Prajapati, with production credits to Vinod Kumar Chaudhary, Parul Chaudhary, and Chetan Goswami, ‘Godaan’ now symbolizes broader clashes over religious symbols and historical accountability. As protests grow, Bansal’s call challenges the narrative, urging a reckoning with unresolved traumas before censoring cinema.