Chief minister Nitish Kumar today called for a national debate on "cow vigilantism" that has led to several cases of lynching across the country, saying the gaurakshaks or "cow saviours" were not doing anything to save and serve the abandoned cattle that roam on the streets.

"They are talking about gauraksha (cow protection). Mob violence is also happening at several places. There should be a nationwide debate on the issue and these things should be discussed," Nitish said on the sidelines of weekly Lok Samvad (public interaction) event at 1, Aney Marg.

Last week, the Janata Dal United, of which he is the national president, had tweeted with a picture that there have been 66 incidents of violence in the name of cow protection between January 2010 and June 2017 in which 29 people were killed. Altogether 34 incidents were recorded in BJP-ruled states, the party claimed.

The tweet also squarely blamed the central government by asserting that 97 per cent of the incidents of violence happened after Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in May 2014.

Nitish said that those talking about gauraksha were not doing anything to protect stray cattle. "The real gauraksha is to serve the stray cattle, abandoned on the streets after they stop giving milk. They cause so many accidents. Milk-giving cattle is protected everywhere, but once they stop doing so they are abandoned. If you talk about gauraksha then protect the stray cattle," Nitish said.

The chief minister said Bihar would show the way and the Patna district magistrate has been asked to identify land where a cowshed for stray cattle could be established and run.

Nitish's ally Lalu Prasad had made much the same allegation against gaurakshaks a few months ago but in his own irrepressible way, asking his RJD party cadres to tie their old cattle in front of the houses of RSS and BJP leaders.

"The RSS and BJP leaders do not love gaumata (cow)," Lalu had said at a training camp for his party cadres in Rajgir in May. "I give you the order to tie your old cows that do not give milk at the doors of RSS and BJP leaders. Watch what they do with the cattle."

GST support

Asked why he did not attend the launch ceremony of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) at the Central Hall of Parliament, Nitish said there was no question of doing so as he had not been invited.

"Where was the question of me attending the GST launch ceremony? There was no invitation from the central government. Only members of Parliament, dignitaries from diverse fields and GST Council members were invited. I don't think any chief minister was present at event," he said.

Nitish added that 10 JDU MPs were present at the function, while state commercial taxes minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav attended by dint of being a member of the GST Council.

"Work on GST was going for several years since the time of the UPA government. I had supported it even when I was with the NDA (National Democratic Alliance). GST will bring transparency in business and taxation and will stop wrongdoings," Nitish said.

The chief minister added that there could be teething troubles while implementing GST, but he wanted it to be effective. Awareness drives have been held in Bihar for traders and officials, he said.