NEW DELHI (TIP): Facing attacks over lynching incidents, the government on Thursday asserted that killings in the name of cow “sentiments” was unacceptable and said the state governments should take stern action against those indulging in such violence.

Finance minister Arun Jaitley, who was replying to a debate on lynchings in the Rajya Sabha on behalf of ailing home minister Rajnath Singh, made it clear that the central government could not be blamed for violence by “some people” as it was the responsibility of the state governments to deal with such issues. “The government’s stand is clear.

Nobody is allowed to do that (lynching in the name of cow protection). There is no rationalisation, no arguments of sentiments being hurt can be an explanation for this.

And, the government is absolutely committed,” he said. He said “no amount of sympathy” will be shown for those who indulge in lynching and “law will certainly take its own course.”

Jaitley was replying to the debate on ‘situation arising out of the reported increase in the incidents of lynching.