(IN): Plea to stop animal sacrifice

July 30, 2008

*Plea to stop animal sacrifice*

A STAFF REPORTER

*July 29: *The India chapter of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

(Peta) today urged former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh Mulayam Singh

Yadav to stop his party legislator Kishore Samrite from sacrificing animals

at Kamakhya temple.

Samrite, a Samajwadi Party MLA from Madhya Pradesh, has so far sacrificed 15

buffaloes and more than 200 goats to express gratitude to the goddess for

ensuring the UPA government's victory during the recent trust vote.

The sacrifice will continue till July 30.

Peta's chief functionary Anuradha Sawhney wrote to Yadav saying that animal

sacrifice had no place in Indian culture..

" Animal sacrifice has been specifically banned in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka,

Gujarat, Kerela, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. Article 51 of the

Directive Principles of the Constitution of India states that individuals

should show kindness and compassion towards all living beings. Killing an

animal to celebrate your victory in Parliament hardly seems to adhere to the

spirit of this law, " Sawhney wrote in her letter.

She said the Peta office had been flooded with phone calls and emails from

people horrified by reports of the animal sacrifice.

She hoped that Yadav would regret the blatant show of cruelty to animals as

it would only tarnish the triumph of the Samajwadi Party in Parliament.

Samrite had yesterday said the sacrifice offered at the temple was " for the

victory of the UPA government, progress of the Samajwadi Party and to see

Mulayam Singh Yadav become the Prime Minister after the next general

election. "

" As a talented politician, you are a role model for many people. We hope

that you will consider the enormous influence you have over the masses and

will, in future, refrain from cruel acts that your followers might be

inspired to imitate, " the Peta functionary said in the letter.

--

United against elephant polo

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