Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent remarks against cow vigilante groups were “not expected” and “an insult to all those who have sacrificed their lives for cow protection”, right-wing group Vishwa Hindu Parishad said on Sunday. The group’s vice president (cow protection), Sunil Parashar said the Hindu community “would not tolerate such statements” and that Modi will pay for his words in votes during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

According to The Indian Express, the VHP’s Gujarat unit said “Thousands of butchers killing one lakh cows every year are not termed ‘goondas’ and gau rakshaks like Gita Rambhiya [killed in Ahmedabad years ago] are termed ‘goondas’… This shows your change of heart.” The group also criticised the current government for being friendly with Pakistan, and its “love for [Pakistan prime minister] Nawaz Sharif and Muslims.”

Earlier on Sunday, Modi had said “Stop attacking Dalits…shoot me if you want, not them,” a day after he had first panned “fake gau rakshaks”, saying they make him angry.