(IN) Shocking animal abuse to appease the Deity

[Guest guest]

Received from Europe, but letter referred to below is from Brindha Nandakumar,

Legal Advocate in Bangalore, India working with CUPA. The emails they were sent

to are listed below and people could send letters to the same against this

shocking and unfortunate practice .

meriem

svpatil

Cc: drkharbrm ; awbi ;

secretary.awbi

Tuesday, January 22, 2008 3:59 PM

Shocking animal abuse to appease the Deity in India...

 

Honorable Minister Sri Shivraj V Patil,

Please note that I fully endorse the letter below and I beg you to show

compassion by intervening and putting a ban on horrible and backward events as

described below.

 

Thanking you in advance,

 

Respectfully,

 

Mrs. Maria Borremans

 

1000 Brussels – BELGIUM (EU)

 

sb299871

 

--\

--\

---------------------

 

To

 

 

 

Sri Shivraj V Patil,

 

Hon'ble Minister of Home,

 

Government of India,

 

Room No 104,

 

North Block,

 

New Delhi –110001

 

Respected Sir,

 

 

 

Ref : News Item on ETV Kannada on 14-01-2008 &

 

Times of India report 17th January 2008

 

The practice of throwing of thousands of baby goats and sheep from

heights in Mayalapura , Yadavagiri Taluk, Gulbarga supposedly to

appease the diety and the animals trampled upon by thousands of devotees

gathered for the event of Makkar Sankranti – shown on ETV Kannada on

14-01-2008 was to say the least , the MOST SHOCKING AND PAINFUL VIEWING

to myself and many peace-loving and compassionate citizens. The same was also

reported in Times of India on 17-01-2008.

 

In a country which believes in the principles of ahimsa and

non-violence – and also the birthplace of great souls and messengers of

peace like Buddha, Mahavira and Mahatma Gandhi - it is horrifying that such

cruel, inhumane and barbaric practices involving innocent, dumb and voiceless

creatures are being conducted.

 

Section 11 (1) clause (l) of THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS

ACT, 1960 and Sections 429 and 429 Iindian Penal Code prohibit the killing

or maiming of animals. The Karnataka Prevention of Animal Sacrifices Act, 1959

prohibit killing or sacrifice of animals in the name of religion. All the

above provisions relate to cognisable offences.

 

Article 51 (A) (g) of the Indian Constitution calls upon all citizens to

show compassion to all living creatures.

 

Despite stringent laws against killing or maiming of animals in the name

of religion, the laws are being openly flouted and animals are being brutally

killed and openly in front of the public, including young children of

impressionable ages. There is blatant violation of the laws of the land

sadly in the presence of authorities.

 

There is NO R ELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE to the so-called ritual practice.

The same is what is popularly called " Mooda nambikegalu " , promotes cruelty

and needs to abolished like bride-burning, female infanticide and sati . Hindu

Religion promotes kindness and compassion to animals and believes in the

philosophy that all animals including the smallest have souls. As a Hindu, I

strongly condemn such barbaric and inhumane acts involving animals , in the

name of religion or otherwise as the same is contrary to the ideals of Hindu

religion.

 

I kindly appeal to you to intervene in the above matter and issue

directions to the concerned authorities to

 

a) Initiate action against the offenders for the heinous crime

committed in the name of religion.

 

b) To stop the above inhumane , cruel practice of baby goats

brutally thrown and trampled and being subjected to enormous pain and injury

, finally resulting in slow, agonising death.

 

c) To stop cruelty to baby goats in any form during festivals or

otherwise.

 

Looking forward to your kind intervention in protecting the goats /

sheep / other animals from senseless torture and cruelty.

 

Thanking you,

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Brindha Nandakumar,

 

Animal Rights Activist and

 

Advocate , Karnataka High Court