Remarks on dog killers: Chennithala calls Maneka Gandhi hypocrite
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Thiruvananthapuram: Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala on Thursday called Union Minister Maneka Gandhi hypocrite for her remarks that the Kerala Anti-Social (Prevention) Act (KAPA) should be used against those who kill stray dogs.
"Maneka Gandhi is a hypocrite. Who does she think she is? Even the Chief Minister is not spared. Who gave her all this authority? This is in no way acceptable," Chennithala told the Assembly.
Chennithala spoke after question hour, highlighting the menace of stray dogs in the state.
“It’s a dangerous situation that people are killed by stray dogs. Actions should be taken immediately to stop the stray dog menace.”
Maneka Gandhi’s remarks drew wide criticism in the state where stray dogs have become a major menace.
The minister's comment also drew ire of people as it came on a day when a 90-year-old man succumbed here to his injuries he suffered when stray dogs mauled him.
Speaking to Asianet TV channel in Delhi, Gandhi, the union Women and Child Development Minister, said Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan should not sit silent when people are killing stray dogs.
She also said Kerala's Director General of Police should charge such people under Kerala Anti-Social (Prevention) Act.
There has been an all-round protest against her in Kerala.
The first to react was leading businessman Kochuouseph Chittilapally, who said "those who speak like this should undergo a mental check-up".
"I am fine and it's she (Gandhi) who has to undergo it. And rather than being so much concerned about dogs, she should be worried for her son," said Chittilapally, who has been in the forefront of the war against stray dogs in the state.
Minister for Local Self Government K.T. Jaleel said Gandhi is not seeing anything as she is in Delhi.
"Since she is not seeing or knowing anything, she can make such statements like KAPA and such things. We do not subscribe to such things," said Jaleel.
State Congress President V.M. Sudheeran said that use of the KAPA is not a sensible solution at all.