Thiruvananthapuram: Local bodies minister K.T. Jaleel on Wednesday hit out at Union minister for women and child development Maneka Gandhi for demanding registration of cases under Kerala Anti Social Activities (Prevention) Act for killing strays in the state.
At a press conference here the minster said that Ms Gandhi could say whatever she liked sitting there in Delhi. "If the union minister wants to know the dangers posed to the lives of people by stray dogs then she should visit Kerala," he said.
Mr Jaleel said that even the BJP which was ruling at the Centre was not likely to support the views of Ms Maneka Gandhi. He denied the union minister’s charge that dogs were being killed in large numbers in the state.
In interview to Malayalam news channel Ms Gandhi said the DGP should ensure that strays in the state were not attacked by anti-socials. She demanded strict action against people who were killing dogs.
According to her the people killing dogs were criminals and should be charged under KAPA. The union minister asked the state government to set up Animal Birth Control (ABC) units from November to achieve the goal of stray dog eradication within one year.
At a separate press conference, KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran said Ms Gandhi’s stand was not balanced. “One should not give more importance to the lives of dogs than human lives. The kind of statement she made was not expected from a union minister. She should visit Kerala to understand the ground realty. Stray dog problem here is grave,” he said.
