India, June 8 -- The BJP's coming to power in West Bengal, after what many critics describe as the machinations of the Election Commission and a process overlooked by the judiciary, has created a major scare among the Muslim minority of the state. The government has started erecting detention centres in every district to house alleged infiltrators from Bangladesh and has called for a grand memorial to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, among other initiatives.

One development, however, has caused considerable discomfort among sections of the Hindu population. It relates to the sustained campaign around cow-beef politics and the lynching of Muslims in the name of cow protection. As Eid approached, Hindus brought their cows and bulls to market ...