Opposition slams government for dog menace

Thiruvananthapuram: The opposition parties have slammed the Pinarayi Vijayan government for, what they called, its "inaction against the stray dog menace" in the state, which has claimed at least 10 lives so far.

Besides the deaths, over a lakh people have been reportedly bitten by the strays in the past one year across Kerala.

Moving leave for an adjournment motion, Indian Union Muslim League legislator P.K. Basheer from the opposition ranks in a beautifully presented speech, laced with his characteristic humour, slammed the government and Local Self Government Minister K.T. Jaleel for inaction on the menace of stray dogs.

"Animal birth control measures is not the proper action...the only action required is killing of stray dogs. Today it's like police arrive on the scene in a flash when people kill a dog, while if a murder takes place, they take their own sweet time," Basheer said.

"What is this? People are losing patience as the government is not acting. A probe should also be conducted into the activities of the 'dog lovers', who have taken this issue in a big way. Where do they get the money to employ highly-paid lawyers?" said Basheer.

Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala said the vaccine mafia is also very strongly behind this 'dog lovers' campaign, as Kerala is a Rs 200-crore annual market for them and hence multiple interests are involved.

"The act is very clear that ferocious dogs that pose a threat to human beings can be eliminated and the need of the hour is action," underlined Chennithala.

Most of the legislators speaking on the issue slammed Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi for her statement that all those who kill dogs and those who instigate others to do this should be charged under Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAPA).

The Bharatiya Janata Party's sole legislator O. Rajagopal pointed out that it is no use blaming Maneka Gandhi for her personal opinions, and the government has to act.

Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan also expressed his displeasure with Jaleel for not coming out with a solution.

"You (Minister) please say what are you going to do on this, as this has become a serious issue. Please come to the point and say what your plans are," said Sreeramakrishnan.

Jaleel said there are four petitions pending before the Supreme Court on the issue of killing the stray dogs.

"There are only 56 dog catchers, as there is a huge shortage of dog catchers. All the local bodies have now been asked to allocate adequate funds for animal birth control measures. It will take time for complete sterilisation of dogs to take place, but the government will do everything to see that the problem ends," said Jaleel.