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By:

Minal Sancheti

2 May 2026 at 12:26:53 pm

Funeral for animals

Mumbai: On the occasion of National Animal Rights Day, a funeral was held for all the voiceless creatures that humans have killed for selfish reasons. The act was a campaign and was a brainchild of Animal Climate and Health in collaboration with Our Planet Theirs Too. The purpose was to spread awareness about animal cruelty. The campaign took place at Carter Road Amphitheatre and so a crowd of both young and old supported the cause. Speaking about animal cruelty, recently the internet was...

Funeral for animals

Mumbai: On the occasion of National Animal Rights Day, a funeral was held for all the voiceless creatures that humans have killed for selfish reasons. The act was a campaign and was a brainchild of Animal Climate and Health in collaboration with Our Planet Theirs Too. The purpose was to spread awareness about animal cruelty. The campaign took place at Carter Road Amphitheatre and so a crowd of both young and old supported the cause. Speaking about animal cruelty, recently the internet was flooded with a viral video of a group of men at Mira Road taking a piglet to a locality where goats were brought for religious sacrifice. Aparjita Ashish, the founder and director of Animal Climate and Health said, “It is an act of cruelty to kill animals for religious sacrifice but to protest against this they were harassing a baby pig. The poor pig was screaming for his life. So how’s that right? If you want to protest, protest peacefully.” Ashish also comments on the Apex Judiciary’s decision of euthanising terminally ill dogs, “If the dog has a serious illness like rabies and is in a lot of pain, with a doctor’s permission and in a peaceful manner, they should be euthanised. The apex court also spoke about the ABC or animal birth control which if done with correct procedures, can help bring down issues related to the stray dogs. Many times the process is wrong so the animals become subject to cruelty.” She even added that the strays should not be displaced as that will leave them confused. This is also an act of ill treatment. The occasion saw a large number of gatherers. According to the campaigners, being vegan is not just for protecting animals but also for the climate. Ashish explained, “If you see the name of our NGO, it is Animal Climate and Health. So we also talk about the impact of consuming animal products on the environment.” She gives an example of how methane gas is produced because of the dairy animals and how the food and resources to breed animals are so much that it affects the environment. The supporters who participated in the campaign said they also noticed many health benefits of going vegan. Anil Nagpal, a senior citizen and volunteer with the organisation said, “For many years I was going through ill health. I tried every treatment but nothing really helped much. But then someone convinced me to go vegan and since that time my health has improved drastically. After this many people in my circles who used to eat animal products have given up.” When asked what his protein sources are, he said, “I eat lentils and legumes. Vegetables also contain protein.” Ashish claimed that humans have an ego that makes them think they are above animals.

Discord and Doubts

Updated: Nov 25, 2024

MVA

With barely 48 hours left for the results of the fiercely contested Assembly polls, serious cracks seem to be appearing within the opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in Solapur in western Maharashtra. A bitter feud has erupted between the Congress and Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT), raising questions about the coalition’s unity throughout the election and its ability to challenge the BJP’s formidable machinery.


The Solapur South assembly seat has become a theatre of major discord within the MVA, strongly reminiscent of the bickering between the Congress and the Sena (UBT) over the Sangli Lok Sabha seat during the parliamentary election in May this year.


On polling day on November 20, Congress veteran Sushilkumar Shinde and his daughter, Solapur MP Praniti Shinde, threw their weight behind Dharmaraj Kadadi, an independent candidate, instead of supporting Amar Patil, the Sena (UBT)’s nominee who was the official MVA candidate.


Shinde justified his move citing Kadadi’s strong local connect and the Congress’ historical dominance in the constituency, while taking a swipe at Shiv Sena (UBT)’s “unfounded claim” over the seat – a replay of the Sangli fiasco during the Lok Sabha.


Predictably, this drew sharp reactions from the Shiv Sena (UBT) with the Thackeray camp accusing Praniti Shinde of ‘betrayal,’ with party deputy leader Sharad Koli leading a vitriolic attack, calling for her expulsion from the MVA alliance. Koli went as far as alleging that Shinde had received BJP backing for her decision.


The Sena (UBT) is seething with rage at the Shindes’ behaviour given that Uddhav Thackeray had vigorously campaigned for Praniti during the Lok Sabha.


The fallout is emblematic of the MVA’s coordination problems and is particularly glaring given that a section of exit polls seem to favour the ruling Mahayuti on counting day of November 23.


Be that as may, exit polls have been frequently – and spectacularly – wrong in recent times, as evinced in the recent Haryana election result.


Meanwhile, the big question in another corner of western Maharashtra - Pimpri-Chinchwad, a former NCP stronghold is whether Deputy CM Ajit Pawar - is whether the Mahayuti have succeeded in controlling schisms within their fold.


Known for its history of electing strong independents, this industrial belt in Pune district has always been a political wildcard. However, for the first time in 15 years, this election saw the Bhosari and Chinchwad Assembly constituencies lack formidable independent contenders - a development that could lead to unpredictable outcomes.


In Chinchwad, NCP (Ajit Pawar) leader Nana Kate, initially set to run as an independent, withdrew under party pressure. Similarly, in Bhosari, former corporator Ravi Landge, now with Shiv Sena (UBT), also stepped back. However, Bhausaheb Bhoir, a Mahayuti rebel, contested as an independent.


In the Chinchwad seat, the contest is between the BJP’s Shankar Jagtap (brother of deceased Chinchwad strongman Laxman Jagtap) and Rahul Kalate of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP).


Jagtap was contesting the assembly election for the first time while Kalate had twice contested the election unsuccessfully. Will the independent Bhoir queer the Mahayuti’s pitch?


In Bhosari, BJP MLA Mahesh Landge faced a tough battle against his rival and relative, Ajit Gavhane of the NCP (SP), who appeared to make late gains in Landge’s stronghold.


As the votes are counted on November 23, the results in this belt will depend on how well the Mahayuti has managed the byzantine intrigue in Pimpri-Chinchwad.

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