The Opposition on Thursday termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks against killings in the name of cow as "too little, too late" and said instead of statements he should ensure strict action against the guilty.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi tweeted “words mean nothing when actions outdo them,” even as the left parties maintained that Modi need not remind people of Mahatma Gandhi's ideals but should ensure strict action against those attacking people on the pretext of protecting cows.

At the AICC briefing, senior Congress spokesperson Ghulam Nabi Azad dubbed Modi's remarks as "yet another publicity stunt" which had "no meaning". He said the remarks have come after "public pressure" in the wake of Wednesday's countrywide protests against lynchings.

On the Prime Minister's statement that unleashing violence against others went against the ideals of Gandhi, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said: "We do not need him to remind us of this."

"We are aware of Gandhi's principles ... We want to know what the prime minister proposes to do to stop such mobocracy," he said.

In an open letter, CPI general secretary S Sudhakar Reddy welcomed Modi's "another" warning to the "so-called" cow vigilantes.  "In spite of Modi's severe warning to them", anti-social elements are continuing with their activity. It is not clear to people what is encouraging them, it said.

Ministers in the BJP-ruled states are supporting cow vigilantes, directly or indirectly, through their statements, he said adding no action has been taken against cow vigilantes or in cases of attacks on Dalits.

"It is more like a warlord's regime of Middle Ages then a democratic government of the 21st century in India, especially in BJP-ruled states ... Real, serious steps should be taken to stop these killings at once," he added.