Karnataka Minister for Urban Development and Haj, R Roshan Baig on Monday slammed what he called “PETA fundamentalism”, and accused the animal rights organisation for “not allowing the government to clear cities of stray dogs.”
Speaking at the winter session of the Karnataka Assembly on Monday, Roshan Baig said that the activists will understand the severity of the problem of stray dogs if their children get bitten. He was replying to questions raised in the Legislative Council about the increasing stray dog and stray pig population in Hubballi and Dharwad.
“We've know there is communal fundamentalism and environmental fundamentalism. But there is another kind of fundamentalism – PETA fundamentalism. They block the government’s efforts to clearing stray dogs from the streets. They will realise the problem if something happens to their children,” Roshan Baig said.
In the twin cities of Hubbali-Dharwad, PETA has been campaigning against the municipal authorities’ attempts to clear stray dogs from the streets. They had accused the municipal corporation of illegally relocating the stray dogs.
“Some time ago, I had tried to clear Vidhana Soudha premises of stray dogs. I received so many messages on WhatsApp after PETA gave a press conference and kicked up a controversy. Let them take care of their children first,” Roshan Baig added.
He also said that he was scared of riding a two-wheeler in Bengaluru. “They (stray dogs) chase people on motorcycles,” he said.
Jumping in on the issue, JD(S) leader Basavaraj Horatti, condemned the government for not taking action against the issue of stryy pigs and dog attacking school children.
“It is shameful that school children from Hubballli and Dhaward are getting bitten by dogs and pigs and nobody's doing anything,” Horatti said.
Roshan Baig, while responding to Basavaraj’s statement blamed PETA for the “menace of stray animals.”
“We sometimes become helpless as much opposition is raised on issues concerning animal rights. We agree that there are animal rights issues. But they should also think about human beings,” he added.
TNM tried contacting PETA but was unable to get a response.