Misery of Indian elephants
There have been many contradictions in Union Minister Maneka Gandhi’s decisions and opinions. She speaks much vocally against the violence on animals. But then she maintains silence on issues pertaining to violence against people. She bats for animal rights, but is very irritated with human rights activists. In her ecological world, the poor or the labourer or the farmer finds no mention.
She cries buckets if a peacock dies somewhere. But an incident of violent mob lynching does not evoke as much compassion. She has been using environmental issues to further her political career. Such a lady has suddenly woken up to the issue of Bandula elephant in Sri Lanka, which have been kept under captivity since last 67 years. She has now written a letter to the President of Sri Lanka about this, and said the elephants’ foreleg has been injured owing to continuous chaining. “Sri Lanka is a beautiful island. Such sad treatment to elephants does not befit the image of the country” she said in her letter insisting the animals be let free.
Tragedy is, India is one of the countries that metes out worst treatment to elephants. Whatever the country worships as ‘divine’, all that has been under assault for the same reason as they are considered holy. We called our women ‘devi’ and shaved her head to leave her in Vrindavan. If the British didn’t invade us, Sati practice would still be in force now. Ganga river is considered sacred, and the same devotees that pray have caused irreparable damage to the river. People throw half burnt bodies into the river to help the dead attain moksha. This is an insult both to the dead and to the river. Bhakts have shown this cruelty towards the river they worship the most. Media shows us cattle is called ‘mother’ and they are piled inside the Gau Shala to kill them without food or water. Beef was snatched away from the poor owing to religious reasons, and the cattle are starved to death. We wanted to safeguard the sandalwood trees and we ensured farmers don’t get to grow them. Elephants enter the same list.
Elephant has different level of significance in the country. We saw god in this animal. But that does not mean we treat them well. We have been successfully torturing the animal day in and out. Our according of divide status to this animal itself has worked against its interests.Most temples have elephants for their assets because it’s a matter of pride for the place. It is not easy to rear an elephant. They have to be chained and the mahout needs to continuously poke them behind the ears to keep them under control. Kerala has maximum number of elephants in its temples, in the country. About 4000 elephants are being engaged in different rituals and divine purposes in the country. Kerala alone has 500 of them in the state.
A documentary on how animals are tortured to tame them. This had caught the fancy of the whole world. Though the feet of the animals were bleeding, the mahouts continued to kick and poke them. It’s a surprise that this documentary hasn’t reached Maneka Gandhi yet. Forest department usually initiates disciplinary action against monkey rearers, and those who make the bear dance. But the same forest department pretends to not see the exhibition of elephants to add to the attraction factor of their temples. This has not only created trouble for the general public, but also to elephants as well. An elephant had gone berserk on the premises of Krishna Mutt in Udupi recently. Elephants have destroyed public property sometimes. Some have even been killed. While the government organizes Jamboo Savari, one cannot even imagine the loss of life and property in case the elephants get excited or go berserk. Using elephants during religious programmes is not just flouting of wild life act, but also defying the act of human rights as well. Why should people undergo ages of fear despite not doing anything wrong.
Maneka Gandhi needs to get someone to send her a consolidated report on how many elephants exist in temples across the country and how they have been made use of, for false prestige or later may be. The minister should see the video to understand the kind of violence a baby elephant to overgrow should they be tamed. There are people who would kill some men trusting the messages which have no significance. The act of a human being poking them repeatedly, till sometimes they even bleed, why isn’t it seen as a crime? We do have legal framework in this family/nation. Thought there are staffers appointed by the government. But they have failed in safeguarding the interest of elephants as well. Now all those injured elephants which have been treated badly, need to be sent back to forests or into zoos. India needs to come up with a policy that would ensure elephants won’t be ill-treated. After the elephants are rescued from their bhakts, Sri Lanka president may consider Minister Maneka Gandhi’s words seriously.
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MP minister's veiled remark on Col Sofia Qureshi sparks major row; he apologises, Cong seeks ouster
Bhopal/Indore, May 13 (PTI): Madhya Pradesh Minister and BJP leader Vijay Shah has sparked a major controversy with objectionable comments that appeared to be directed at Col Sofia Qureshi, whom he tried to project as a "sister of terrorists."
Under severe flak, Shah said if anyone is hurt by his statement, he is ready to apologise ten times, adding that he respects Colonel Qureshi more than his sister.
The Congress has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sack Shah from the Madhya Pradesh cabinet.
Colonel Qureshi had conducted regular press briefings, sharing details of the 'Operation Sindoor' launched by Indian armed forces to strike terrorists, joined by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.
"Those people (terrorists) who had wiped out the sindoor (vermilion) of our sisters (in the Pahalgam terror attack)..We avenged these 'kate-pite' people by sending their sister to destroy them," Shah said.
"They (terrorists) killed our Hindu brothers by making them remove their clothes. PM Modi ji responded by sending their (terrorists') sister in an Army plane to strike them in their houses. They (terrorists) made our sisters widows, so Modiji sent the sister of their community to strip them and teach them a lesson", the BJP leader said while addressing a gathering in Ramkunda village near Indore.
He said, "Revenge was taken for the honour of our country (India), respect, and for the (slain) husbands of our sisters by sending a sister from your (terrorists') community to Pakistan".
The tribal welfare minister clarified that his remarks should not be construed otherwise.
Shah's remarks drew wide-scale condemnation, with Congress demanding his immediate dismissal from the MP cabinet.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said Shah, who made 'derogatory' remarks in reference to Colonel Sofia Qureshi, should be dismissed immediately.
"A minister of the BJP government of Madhya Pradesh has made a very derogatory, shameful and cheap remark about our brave daughter Colonel Sofia Qureshi. The terrorists of Pahalgam wanted to divide the country, but the country was united during the entire 'Operation Sindoor' to give a befitting reply to the terrorists," Kharge posted on X.
He alleged that the BJP-RSS harbours an anti-women mentality.
"First, the wife of the naval officer martyred in Pahalgam was trolled on social media, then the daughter of Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri was harassed, and now the BJP ministers are making such indecent comments about our brave woman Sophia Qureshi," Kharge said and appealed to PM Modi to immediately sack Shah.
Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari shared the video of Shah on X and asked whether the BJP agrees with the minister's "low thinking"?
The MP Congress Committee alleged that Shah's "indecent' and hate-filled" statement is not just a personal attack, but an open attack on India's military dignity, national unity, and women's honour.
Amid the raging controversy, the BJP's Madhya Pradesh general secretary Hitanand Sharma summoned Shah to the state headquarters in Bhopal.
According to sources, Sharma reprimanded the minister, who also met the state BJP president, Vishnu Dutt Sharma.
Speaking to reporters, Shah sought to attribute the intemperate remarks to his "disturbed" state of mind in view of the brutal killing of innocent people in Pahalgam by terrorists.
He claimed many members of his family have a military background and many were martyred.
"Sister Sophia has brought glory to India by rising above caste and religion. She is more respected than our own sister. I salute her for her service to the nation.
"We cannot even think of insulting her in our dreams. Still, if my words have hurt society and religion, then I am ready to apologise ten times,'' he added.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Manoj Shukla and the party workers blackened the nameplate of Shah at his bungalow and raised slogans seeking his resignation.
'हमारी सेना की जांबाज बेटियां आतंकवादियों की बहन हैं'
— Congress (@INCIndia) May 13, 2025
- ये घटिया बात मध्य प्रदेश में BJP सरकार के मंत्री विजय शाह ने कही है।
भारत की जिन बेटियों पर सबको नाज है, उन बेटियों को लेकर ये शर्मनाक बयान दिया गया है। उन्हें आतंकवादियों की बहन बताया गया है।
ये हमारी पराक्रमी सेना का… pic.twitter.com/y591M3ky8G
