Rajasthan Elephant Festival

[Guest guest]

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

 

 

This is for all those who have taken interest in the debate of

whether 'elephant polo' in Jaipur is the right move.

 

I would like to request all to kindly go through the official

website of 'Rajasthan Tourism' by clicking a link below:

 

http://www.rajasthan-tourism.org

 

In the website it is very cleary mentioned that there is a plan of

organising the following events:Elephant polo, Elephant race, the

tug-of-war between Elephant.

 

I would like to take this opportunity in informing all the

organisations, individuals, experts in captive elephant conservation

working in Rajasthan, other parts of India and also those who take

interest in the animals of India that some of the above mentioned

events were similarly planned last year by the Assam Government in

the Kaziranga Centenary Celebtrations.

But with the interventions of many the events such as Elephant race,

the tug-of-war between Elephant, Elephant soccer, Elephant mock

fight etc was scratched of from the schedule.

The biggest 'VICTORY' for animal rights in Assam and the northeast

INdia in recent times.

This simply would not have been possible without the commitment and

dedication of the following who were quite instrumental in getting

the circus like events banned:

 

1. Smt. Maneka Gandhi, Chairperson, People for Animals

2. Ms. Belinda Wright, Executive Director, WPSI-India

3. Ms. Anuradha Sawhney, Chief Functionary, PETA-India

4. The Animal Welfare Board of India and some honest and caring

officials in the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests,

Government of India.

 

Those who are not aware of the furore, may check the links below:

 

Torture slur on Kaziranga b?day circus

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050205/asp/northeast/story_4338877.asp

 

Boycott Elephant Festival in Assam, India

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/410461279

 

Kaziranga Centenary Celebration or Elephant Circus ?

http://www.wpsi-india.org/news/04022005.php

 

Row over Kaziranga fest

http://www.indianjungles.com/160205e.htm

 

Controversy over Kaziranga centenary celebrations

http://www.hindu.com/2005/02/09/stories/2005020910830300.htm

 

 

 

Having said that, I want to ask just one question as to why today,

when a similar event is being organised in another part of India, we

are not objectiong to it.

 

Was I wrong when I wrote mails, letters asking people to protest

during the Kaziranga Centenary elebrations in 2005, advocating the

rights of captive elephants ?

 

Were the distinguished experts on animal rights who names I have

mentioned above wrong ?

 

I feel the example set in Assam should have been used as a model in

Rajasthan. I am afraid if things do not go right now, then

everything could go back to what it was before.

 

If you feel that Rajasthan tourism is doing wrong by organising or

promoting these events, then please write to them at:

 

Savion Travel Services Pvt. Ltd.

Contact Person: Mr. Dhirendra Tiwari

Address: 73, Gagan Vihar, Delhi-110 051,

INDIA Telephone: +(91)-(11)-22442521

Email : info

 

If any of you feel that I was wrong, or those who supported me

during the protests of Kaziranga Centenary Celebrations were wrong,

please do write to me at: azamsiddiqui

 

Regards,

 

Azam Siddiqui