UNITED HUMANS AGAINST ATROCITIES ON ANIMALS
UNITED HUMANS AGAINST ATROCITIES ON ANIMALS
“Not knowing is the law is not an excuse for not following it”, “Stop the rivers of animal blood, don’t pollute the earth”, “If you eat beef in Haryana, police will be called, I will call,” are among the points a 500 strong crowd of animal lovers from across the board made, through a peaceful car rally on 28th September, 8.30 am onwards; organized by Dhyan Foundation, supported by PFA. The volunteers, who came from all walks of life, marched from Tees January Marg to the Home Ministers House and further to the Press Club of India, Haryana Police Commissioners Office and finally concluded the cavalcade at Haryana DCs office.
The rally was organized in the wake of atrocities against animals reaching their peak, laws openly being flouted by miscreants, and certain personalities and journalists endorsing such anti-national sentiments and acts through public statements and articles. Case in point, the reckless illegal slaughter of animals on eid in Bengal, serving of illegal beef biryani in mewat, 100 crore business of illegal cattle trafficking in Balasore (Orissa) which is reported to fund terrorist movements, culling orders for monkeys and nilgais in Himachal and Bihar respectively, dogs being poisoned and thrown off terraces in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, mismanaged animal care centers (Hingonia, Jaipur), garbage menace in metropolitans and increasing stray deaths on account of plastic poisoning, accidental deaths, administrations apathy, to name a few.
It is important for everyone, no matter what the caste, creed or religion, to show a united front against the cruel and inhuman treatment meted towards animals of all shapes and sizes. Yogi Ashwini, the guiding light of Dhyan Foundation, expressed, “When we help the weak and those in distress we generate positive karma, this comes back to us manifold and our pains vanish. All religions say this but the followers don't believe it… Believe in your religion. I appeal to all political parties to help us make India a humane society and take it towards progress.”
The plea of “United Humans against Atrocities on Animals” is simple – there are laws in India to protect animals, and no one should be allowed to break them, without exceptions. Yogi Ashwini’s student and former Miss India World, Nikita Anand, who had joined the rally, was heard saying, “When the first law is broken in a state, why is it not at that point of time stopped, and not killing a cow is a law, which is being broken, why are we not stopping it, why are we allowing even this Mewat area and other walled areas to become small kashmirs and islamic states? Why is the police not entering these areas and stopping them? We are encouraging the law to be broken.”
Dhyan Foundation has been working closely with the law to protect animals and presented over 500 FIRs, details of illegal trade routes and offenders, recordings of conversations with cops as evidence of the growing lawlessness and apathy towards animals in the country and the hardships faced by animal activists.
Ambika shukla of PFA said, “when we see a crime happening to a child or a women being molested, if we as citizens come forward to protect, everyone applauds the heroic act. But the same people, if we step forward to protect an animal, they say why are you breaking the law! How are they breaking the law? They are upholding the law! We need to change this thought process that people who are coming forward to protect cows from slaughtering are doing something wrong. People who are coming forward are not caring about their own lives and they are not getting any awards for this act.”
These law-abiding citizens of India, demand action and were joined by animal groups and citizens from across the board who expressed solidarity with the cause in a one of kind parade.
Hon'ble Minister Maneka Gandhi, Ministry of Women & Child Development, expressed: “Cruelty to animals is a reflection of lack of empathy and compassion in the society. I am happy that the Government is taking some positive steps in creating an atmosphere where people start recognising the importance of providing human conditions to animals and sharing the habitat with them.”
KNOW YOUR LAWS
* It is illegal to torture, maim or over stuff any animal in any vehicle. This comes under the PCA Act (Animal cruelty), section 11(1)a.
* It is unlawful to take animals on foot before sunrise and sunset. Nor can you leave your cow/bulls on the roads, like strays, it is a crime
* In Haryana it is illegal to slaughter cows or bulls and to possess beef (under Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act 2015)
* Attack on animal activists is considered as an attempt to murder, section 307 applies
ABOUT DHYAN FOUNDATION
A 100 per cent voluntary organisation, Dhyan Foundation runs a number of charitable activities for both human populous and animal welfare. Below are few of the animal initiatives:
Feed A Dog – A countrywide initiative to feed, rescue, rehabilitate and provide veterinary care to stray, injured, abandoned, sick dogs through over 500 feeding spots, 100 plus dog shelters, 24-hour emergency services and rescue van.
Save A Cow – A countrywide initiative to feed, rescue, rehabilitate and provide veterinary care to more than 6000 stray, injured, abandoned, sick cows and bulls through 22 gaushalas, 100 plus feeding spots, 24-hour emergency services and rescue van. Recently we help drought relief camps for bovines in Latur, Maharasthra and Dausa and Hingonia in Rajasthan.
Help A Monkey – An initiative to resolve the growing man-monkey conflict in the face of reckless clearing of forests and subsequent movement of monkeys to urban dwellings. We feed thousands of monkeys in Delhi, Vrindavan, Simla, Hyderabad and Mysore away from human habitation, our aim is to redirect them to forests and grow fuiting trees for them. We are presently fighting a case in the court to protect the monkeys in Simla, who by a government notification have been declared vermin.
Befriend A Bird – Initiative to feed, rescue and rehabilitate birds, provide medical assistance to sick and injured and to prevent illegal bird trade.
