Can we have Swachh Bharat with dog shit strewn all over the place
Those who are against culling of dogs which is carried out in all civilised countries should answer; are they also against killing of rats. Why can we not share our living space with rats and cockroaches? Why do we spray insecticides on them? Why is it perfectly reasonable to kill rats and cockroaches but wrong to kill dogs? We want the government to exterminate all mosquitoes and make the species extinct but killing the stray dogs is cruelty. Why are dogs so precious?
A few years back cows used to be roaming freely on our streets. Hindus would feed them as part of their religious rituals. These cows were pushed out of the cities and the Hindus to whom the cow is their mother, did not protest but adjusted to the situation to make our Bharat Swachh.
However dog lovers of all religions and also non religious ones are non compromising on the matter of removal of stray dogs for creating a Swachh and Safe Bharat.
If they wish to give special status to DOGS higher than GAU MATA, horses, pigs and rats, at least they should explain why do dogs deserve a higher status over gau mata and others.
It is also advised by some that we should make friends with the dogs in our street. How about those who take long walks or jog across the colonies? How about the poor delivery boys trying to make a living by delivering food on their bicycles across many colonies? How about rag picker children who try to eke out a living by picking the trash lying on our streets? Dogs attack all of them. Any one running or cycling is at risk. Anyone walking back home from the Metro or Bus Stand late at night is at risk.
The only people not at risk are those who move around in cars and walk only in their street or nearby space.
Doctors tell our young and middle aged people to go for a jog or a walk. The poorer colonies do not have parks . People can only jog or walk on the roads. The dangerous dogs make it impractical unless you have the time and patience to make friends with every dog on every route you want to take.
Thus stray dogs are increasing diabetes and heart trouble all across India leading to tens of thousands of untimely deaths.
We allow killing of goats sheep chicken buffaloes all across India for sale of their meat. Even killing of cows is allowed for beef in some states. Why then is killing of dogs banned all across India. Why can our brothers from North East or other places who want to have dog meat denied their rights while others eat what they want.
NO one is against pet dogs. We would however appreciate if the dog owners would remove the excreta of their dogs when they take them for a walk.
I only request that we should apply the norms followed by civilised countries and not treat dogs as holy animals.
Let’s work for a Swachh and Safe Bharat more