India: Maneka Gandhi appeal to Jain Community :

stop the indiscriminate use of elephants in religious processions

Smt. Maneka Gandhi, who has been assiduously working for the cause of animal care and protection for the last several years and has contributed immensely towards stopping slaughter of animals has now raised her voice against ill-treatment meted out to elephants.

She has made a strong appeal to the entire Jain community, particularly Digambar Jains, to stop the indiscriminate use and cruelty shown to elephants during various religious processions taken out by them.

During these processions, very high degree noise is produced by loud speakers, bands, even some-times fire-works, which becomes unbearable by sensitive animals like elephants.

Being dumb, they can not speak out their agony but their mental condition is seriously affected and many times they go mad and they even die prematurely. These animals are not even given water or food and they have to starve for hours.They are even painted with harmful paints.

Even according to Animal Protection and Cruelty Act, 1960, it is illegal to harass animals. She has urged the Jain community, which is supposed to believe ernestly in ahimsa and compassion, to show kindness to animals and refrain from ill-treating these animals and not to use them during religious processions.

Source: Ahimsa Times

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